Finnish customs suspect entrepreneur of smuggling €17 million worth of trucks to Russia

Finnish Customs has completed a preliminary investigation into a suspected serious breach of sanctions regulations, accusing a Finnish transport company of illegally exporting 135 trucks and 29 trailers to Russia between 2022 and 2023, Yle reports.

The total value of the vehicles is estimated at €17.5 million, marking the first time Finnish Customs has sought confiscation orders in a sanctions violation case matching the value of goods smuggled to Russia. The case will now proceed to prosecutorial consideration in Eastern Finland.

According to Yle, the main suspects include a transport entrepreneur from Lappeenranta and two employees. One suspect has been in pre-trial detention since the investigation began. The company claimed the vehicles were destined for Kazakhstan or Turkey via Russia, but Customs found they were in fact delivered to a Russian firm specialising in importing and reselling trucks.

Most shipments passed through the Nuijamaa border crossing while the eastern border remained open. EU sanctions have prohibited the export of trucks and trailers to Russia since April 13, 2022.

Petri Lounatmaa, head of Customs’ criminal investigation unit, noted that sanctions evaders often exploit complex international corporate networks and shell companies. This year, Customs recorded eight sanctions violations (six serious) between January and March, compared to 43 cases (17 serious) in 2025.