Lithuania has disclosed a major scheme circumventing sanctions against Russia involving shipments of equipment for the oil industry. According to the country’s customs authorities, eleven people have been arrested on suspicion of violating international sanctions. Law enforcement agencies in Portugal and Bulgaria also participated, coordinated with Eurojust and Europol, as reported by Euronews.
The investigation found that a company from Kaunas organized a shadow supply chain for water treatment equipment destined for Russian oil companies. Formally, the recipient was a Portuguese firm, but in reality, the equipment was sent to Bulgaria and then routed through Turkey to Russia.
The equipment included water treatment components manufactured in the EU and China, used in industrial projects in Russia. The Kaunas company had longstanding ties with Russian enterprises and participated in major projects, including cooperation with a fast-growing petrochemical group.
Among those arrested were company executives and drivers from Moldova and Bulgaria. Several tons of equipment worth about €2 million were seized during the operation, along with two trucks—one in Kaunas and another en route to the Lithuanian-Polish border. A third shipment was detained in Bulgaria.
After questioning, the suspects were released, although two were placed under travel restrictions. In Portugal, a search was conducted at the alleged consignee’s premises, and in Bulgaria, at a warehouse linked to the Kaunas company’s activities.
The pre-trial investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the Kaunas Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
