In Germany, a man was illegally sending drone engines to Russia, amounting to a total value of 2 million euros. Merkur reports.
The Frankfurt am Main prosecutor's office and the Main Customs Office have announced that the man has been arrested. According to the prosecutor's office, the businessman is accused of violating the Foreign Trade and Payments Act.
According to the report, the suspect, man from the Kassel area, exported various electronic components, models of aviation engines, and other goods to Russia in 2022 and 2023 through circumventing deliveries, thereby violating sanctions against Russia. The components were shipped to a company located in St. Petersburg via an intermediary recipient in Hong Kong.
According to information provided by the prosecutor's office, the Russian company is associated with an accomplice of the German entrepreneur.
Among the components supplied were models of aviation engines used in the Russian drone "Orlan-10." These drones are used by Russian occupiers in the aggressive war against Ukraine. Some versions of these drones are intended for artillery fire on Ukrainian territories, as reported by the prosecutor's office.
During the summer of this year, investigators seized a total of 120 engines and successfully prevented their potential export to Russia. In addition to engine transfers, the suspect is also accused of illegally exporting two expensive cars. They were shipped in transit to China and then imported into Russia. The total value of all unlawfully delivered items is 2 million euros.