A large-scale Russian arms trafficking scheme has been exposed in and around Vilnius, the Customs Criminal Service said on Friday.
Its officers have detained four people and seized 319 Russian rifles and semi-automatic carbines Saiga, and 12,000 pieces of ammunition during raids in the capital and the districts of Vilnius and Svenčionys. The total value of arms and ammunition stands at around 335,000 euros.
The detained persons are suspected of creating and taking part in a scheme to circumvent international sanctions imposed on Russian arms manufacturers back in 2014. As part of the scheme, large quantities of Russian firearms were smuggled into Lithuania and sold both in the country and in other EU states.
Customs officials launched a probe into arms smuggling and the violation of international sanctions against Russia in 2020. Last Tuesday, at around 08:00, officers searched the premises of one company involved in wholesale and retail trade in arms and ammunition in Vilnius, as well as Vilnius and Svenčionys Districts.
The company's executive and another three persons were detained. They are all Lithuanian citizens.
Officers say the company has been importing large quantities of new arms produced in Russia, mainly semi-automatic carbines, via one Central Asian country since 2019.
Although the arms were bought in Russia, their documents stated that they were purchased from the Central Asian country in order to bypass international sanctions.
Once the arms reached Lithuania, the weapons would be legalised and sold in Lithuania as well as other EU member states, mainly Germany and Austria.
Officers estimate the company might have imported around 1,500 semi-automatic carbines over the period.
The detained persons are facing prison terms ranging from three to 10 years.
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