German authorities have detained five men suspected of illegally exporting goods to Russian defense companies. The arrests, which took place in northern Germany, targeted individuals accused of violating Germany's foreign trade laws. Two of the suspects hold dual German-Russian citizenship. The investigation is focused on circumventing sanctions.

The suspects allegedly used a trading company to procure goods for Russian industry since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. They are accused of using bogus firms and customers to conceal the deals and bypass EU sanctions. The illicit deals are estimated to be worth at least 30 million euros ($35.5 million).

Investigators believe the network arranged approximately 16,000 deliveries to Russia, with Russian state agencies suspected of involvement. The end customers included at least 24 Russian defense companies. Germany, like other EU nations, is actively trying to prevent the flow of technology and goods to Russia's military.

This crackdown reflects ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions and disrupt the supply chains supporting the Russian military. The investigation aims to determine the specific goods exported and the extent of the network's activities. Further arrests and investigations are likely as authorities work to dismantle the operation.