Latvia opens over 250 cases investigating Russians, Belarusians smuggling sanctioned goods across border

Delfi reported the information.

VID Deputy Director General for Customs Affairs Raimonds Zukuls says that citizens of Russia and Belarus are mainly trying to import various electrical goods, electrical equipment, network equipment, auto parts, and luxury goods to these countries. Instead, they export wood products, fuel, feed, and metal products from Russia and Belarus.

In the case of plywood, for example, they try to circumvent the sanctions by changing the country of origin of the goods or changing the product code. In the case of luxury goods, they change their value.

Zukuls highlighted that despite a decrease since the war's onset, traditional smuggling has not vanished entirely. This decline is attributed to heightened security measures at the EU's external border.

Last year, Latvian customs seized 7.6 million contraband cigarettes. They are mostly found in railroad transportation on the border with Belarus.

• Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky suggested incorporating a proposal to restrict the movement of Russian diplomats into the upcoming package of new sanctions against Russia.