On 2 February 2026, German law enforcement agencies conducted a large-scale operation, during which five people were arrested on suspicion of creating a network to circumvent European sanctions and supply goods to Russian defence industry enterprises.
According to the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office (Generalbundesanwalt), those detained are German citizens as well as individuals with dual citizenship.
The investigation claims that since February 2022, the suspects have organised around 16,000 deliveries to Russia through a network of front companies. The total value of the illegal transactions is estimated at a minimum of €30 million. The recipients include at least 24 Russian companies that are directly included in the EU sanctions lists as manufacturers of weapons and military equipment.
The shipments included dual-use goods and components subject to the European embargo: high-precision ball bearings, photoelectric sensors, convectors, special storage devices, and mechanical and electronic components that can be used in the production of weapons.
The network’s main operational base was a company in Lübeck. During searches in Lübeck, the district of Duchy of Lauenburg, Frankfurt am Main, Nuremberg and other cities, documents, electronic media and other evidence were seized.
Those arrested have been charged with forming a criminal organisation, repeatedly and intentionally violating the Foreign Trade Act (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz) and circumventing EU sanctions. They face long prison sentences.