Customs - Cars sold to Russia: Four arrest warrants executed
In investigations regarding illegal sales of luxury cars to Russia, customs officials searched approximately two dozen residential and business premises in the areas of Offenbach am Main and Aschaffenburg. A spokeswoman for the Frankfurt Customs Office announced that arrest warrants were executed against a 40-year-old woman and three men aged between 39 and 44 on Friday. The four main suspects are accused of violating embargo regulations. According to an EU regulation, it is prohibited to sell luxury goods to Russia.
Concretely, they are alleged to have sold or exported over 170 luxury cars since the end of 2022, despite corresponding sanction regulations. The customs authorities secured around 300,000 Euros in cash and extensive business records, and seized five high-priced vehicles. Additionally, an asset freeze of approximately 13.3 million Euros was obtained. This freezes the access to this assets, which is believed to have been earned through criminal activities.
Joint investigations with the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor's Office have revealed that the network of the group spans across Germany as a whole. Furthermore, there are connections in numerous Eastern European countries and neighboring states of Russia. The customs officials were able to trace the suspects based on tips from the Federal Central Office for the Investigation of Criminal Finances Transactions.
Customs statement
The investigations were mainly focused on residential and business premises in the regions of Offenbach am Main and its neighboring city, Aschaffenburg, located in Bavaria, Hesse's neighboring state. The four primary suspects, including a 40-year-old woman and three men from Frankfurt am Main and its vicinity, are charged with illegally selling or exporting luxury vehicles to Russia, violating EU regulations.
The group, suspected of breaking embargo regulations, is thought to have traded over 170 luxury cars since late 2022. Customs authorities found around 300,000 Euros in cash and numerous business records, as well as seized five luxury cars. Moreover, an asset freeze totalling approximately 13.3 million Euros was issued, which restricts the group's access to these funds believed to be earned through criminal activities.
Joint investigations carried out with Frankfurt's Public Prosecutor's Office revealed a wide-spread network across Germany and several Eastern European countries, directly or indirectly connected to Russia. The customs officials uncovered the suspects' activities through tips from the Federal Central Office for the Investigation of Criminal Finances Transactions.
It is important to note that the illegal sales of luxury cars is not an isolated incident but a matter of concern for the international community, especially in light of the ongoing trade sanctions between the EU and Russia. Customs officials are actively working to combat such criminal activities, protecting both the domestic market and international business premises from such illegal activities.
