Preliminary investigation of aggravated regulation offence completed
The preliminary investigation started by Finnish Customs in March regarding an aggravated regulation offence has been completed. Based on the preliminary investigation, a Finnish company is suspected of exporting 135 trucks and 29 trailers to Russia during 2022–2023 in violation of sanctions.
The Finnish company declared that the vehicles were being exported to Kazakhstan or Türkiye via Russia, but according to the investigation, they in fact ended up in Russia. The preliminary investigation has found that the vehicles were customs cleared into Russia by a company importing and reselling trucks in Russia.
– According to our preliminary investigation, the company has exported heavy equipment to Russia in violation of sanctions, with a value of €17.5 million. For the first time in a criminal investigation involving sanctions violations, Finnish Customs has requested that the value of the goods exported to Russia be confiscated for security, says Petteri Nevalainen, head of the Economic Crime Investigation Unit of Finnish Customs.
Corporate structures used to circumvent sanctions
The investigations highlight cases in which sanctions are circumvented through companies and business operations.
– Sanctions evaders exploit complex international business networks as well as various intermediary and front companies. Transport channels are being changed, and seller companies are led astray with cover stories and fake documents. Criminals also rapidly adapt their operating models as new sanctions regulations come into force, says Petri Lounatmaa, Director of the Customs Crime Investigation Department.
During January–March this year, Finnish Customs has registered eight regulation offences, six of which were aggravated. Four sanctions offences were detected, three of which are being investigated as aggravated. Last year, Finnish Customs registered 43 regulation offences, 17 of which were aggravated. Customs registered three sanctions offences in 2025.
Finnish Customs suspects three individuals of aggravated regulation offences in this case. One of the suspects has been held in pretrial detention since the beginning of the investigation. The case will be forwarded to the Prosecution District of Eastern Finland for consideration of charges in week 22.