Large-scale scheme to circumvent sanctions against Russia uncovered in Lithuania, 11 people detained – photos

Lithuania uncovered a large-scale scheme to circumvent sanctions against Russia. The operation was conducted in cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Portugal and Bulgaria and in coordination with Eurojust and Europol. 11 people were detained, said Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service.

According to the investigation, the Kaunas-based company developed a complex shadow scheme to supply water purification equipment to Russia for use by Russian oil companies.

The formal customer and recipient of the goods from Lithuania was a company from Portugal. However, in reality, the goods were transported to Bulgaria, from where they were to be delivered to Turkey and then to Russia.

The water treatment equipment was designed, assembled and manufactured from components produced in the EU and China. This equipment was intended for specific industrial facilities in Russia. The Kaunas-based company itself, which has close and ongoing ties with business entities operating in Russia, has been actively involved in projects implemented in Russia.

During the searches, 11 people were detained (employees, managers, and drivers – citizens of Moldova and Bulgaria) and two trucks were detained: one in Kaunas (it was loading equipment), and the other was already moving towards the Lithuanian-Polish border.

After the interrogation, the detainees were released, and two of them were released on recognizance not to leave.

In cooperation with the Portuguese and Bulgarian police, searches were also conducted in these countries: in Portugal – at the fictitious recipient of the filtration equipment, and in Bulgaria – at the cargo terminal, a warehouse where the Kaunas company's products are stored.

During the searches, a large amount (several tons) of water treatment equipment and its components were seized.

"The dimensions of some of the units are impressive – for example, one of the units weighs 7 tons, is 2 meters high and 6 meters long, and the cost of the equipment itself is at least 2 million euros," the statement said.

Law enforcement suspects that, bypassing international sanctions, all this equipment would have ended up in Russia, and some of it would have been used in that country's oil industry.

The pre-trial investigation into the violation of international sanctions, which is being conducted by the Kaunas Regional Prosecutor's Office, is ongoing.

• In early 2025, an employee of the Lithuanian company Optogama was exposed on the sale of lasers to Russia.