Finnish Customs has concluded the preliminary inquiry into a suspected sanctions violation by the crew of the vessel Fitburg
Customs has completed the preliminary inquiry into a possible violation of sanctions by the Fitburg, suspected of involvement in a cable damage incident. The purpose of the preliminary inquiry was to determine whether there is reason to suspect that the crew of the Fitburg was guilty of an aggravated sanctions violation by bringing sanctioned steel products into Finnish territorial waters. According to what has been established by Customs, the steel products carried by the vessel are classified as products subject to the sanctions against Russia.
The interviews carried out during the preliminary inquiry show that the vessel had entered Finnish territorial waters at the request of Finnish authorities, so the crew cannot be considered to have intentionally brought the steel products to Finnish territorial waters, thereby violating the sanctions legislation. For this reason, Customs will not initiate a criminal investigation into the matter. The Deputy Prosecutor General has also been consulted in the matter.
With the conclusion of the preliminary inquiry, Finnish Customs will end the administrative detention of the goods, provided that the steel products in the cargo are removed from Finland.