11 detained for scheme to evade sanctions on Russia by dealing with a Russian petrochemical firm.
28/08/2025
Law enforcement in Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Portugal have carried out coordinated raids as part of an investigation into a Kaunas-based company suspected of violating international sanctions by attempting to send industrial water treatment equipment to a Russian petrochemical firm.
Authorities allege the company used a complex shadow delivery scheme, falsely declaring Portugal as the destination while rerouting the equipment through Bulgaria and Turkey to reach Russia. The equipment, valued at approximately €2 million, was intended for use in Russia’s oil industry.
During the operation, 11 individuals were detained, including company employees and truck drivers from Moldova and Bulgaria. Two trucks were intercepted, one in Kaunas during loading and another near the Lithuanian-Polish border. A third shipment was stopped in Bulgaria.
Searches were conducted at the company’s offices, homes of associated individuals, a freight terminal in Bulgaria, and the premises of a fictitious recipient in Portugal. The raids led to the seizure of several dozen tonnes of machinery and components.
The investigation is being led by Lithuania’s Customs Criminal Service (MKT) and the Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office, with support from Eurojust, Europol, and financial crime units.
The company is reportedly linked to one of Russia’s fastest-growing petrochemical enterprises.
References
[1] Customs raid targets Lithuanian firm suspected of supplying Russian oil ...https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2654273/customs-raid-targets-lithuanian-firm-suspected-of-supplying-russian-oil-sector
[2] Lithuania uncovers scheme to evade sanctions on Russia: 11 detained https://www.eurointegration.com.ua/eng/news/2025/08/25/7218667/
[3] Eurojust helps Lithuania probe “particularly audacious” sanctions ...https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/just-sanctions/article/eurojust-helping-lithuania-probe-particularly-audacious-sanctions-scheme
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As well as owning and publishing Comsure's copyrighted works, Comsure wishes to use the copyright-protected works of others. To do so, Comsure is applying for exemptions in the UK copyright law. There are certain very specific situations where Comsure is permitted to do so without seeking permission from the owner. These exemptions are in the copyright sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended)[www.gov.UK/government/publications/copyright-acts-and-related-laws]. Many situations allow for Comsure to apply for exemptions. These include 1] Non-commercial research and private study, 2] Criticism, review and reporting of current events, 3] the copying of works in any medium as long as the use is to illustrate a point. 4] no posting is for commercial purposes [payment]. (for a full list of exemptions, please read here www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright]. Concerning the exceptions, Comsure will acknowledge the work of the source author by providing a link to the source material. Comsure claims no ownership of non-Comsure content. The non-Comsure articles posted on the Comsure website are deemed important, relevant, and newsworthy to a Comsure audience (e.g. regulated financial services and professional firms [DNFSBs]). Comsure does not wish to take any credit for the publication, and the publication can be read in full in its original form if you click the articles link that always accompanies the news item. Also, Comsure does not seek any payment for highlighting these important articles. If you want any article removed, Comsure will automatically do so on a reasonable request if you email info@comsuregroup.com.