Lithuania intercepts €1.5 million in trucks, tracing sanctions violations to Russia and Belarus

The Lithuanian Customs Criminal Service has conducted searches in Vilnius and Rudamina as part of an investigation into violations of international sanctions, seizing 17 trucks and 15 semi-trailers worth approximately €1.5 million.

According to a report by Lithuanian broadcaster LRT, citing customs officials, the pre-trial investigation targeted companies involved in freight transport and machinery trade suspected of circumventing sanctions, per Caliber.Az.

Authorities believe these companies were illegally transporting various vehicles to Russia and Belarus, using pretexts such as cargo transportation or loading operations. Investigators estimate that a total of 30 vehicles, including trucks, semi-trailers, and luxury cars, may have entered Russia and Belarus in violation of sanctions, with a total value potentially reaching €1.7 million.

Customs officials stated that although the vehicles remained officially registered in Lithuania, they were also registered in Russia or Belarus.

During the investigation, two Belarusian and two Lithuanian citizens were arrested. Additionally, customs officers uncovered cigarette smuggling during the searches.

The probe began when customs officials detained eight trucks and seven semi-trailers at the Medininkai road checkpoint, suspecting an illegal export attempt. On January 29, further raids were carried out at the premises of the targeted companies in Vilnius and Rudamina, leading to the seizure of nine more trucks, eight semi-trailers, and one minibus. The minibus was also found to contain 4,000 packs of smuggled Belarusian cigarettes.

In total, Lithuanian authorities have detained 17 trucks and 15 semi-trailers as part of the investigation, with a total estimated value of €1.5 million.

This seizure follows a series of recent smuggling-related incidents in Lithuania. In early December, border guards intercepted a smugglers’ drone that had entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus in the Švenčionys district.

On January 8, the Lithuanian government authorized border officers to use special ammunition and shells to destroy weather balloons, drones, and other unauthorized aerial objects.

More recently, on January 28, Lithuanian border guards in the Panevėžys district intercepted a large shipment of illegal cigarettes from Latvia, with an estimated value exceeding €2 million.

By Tamilla Hasanova