It is being reported that the Estonian authorities are investigating a large-scale scheme to export luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
Two individuals and two companies are suspected of exporting 209 vehicles valued at €25 million.
So far one individual, an Estonian national, has been arrested and is in custody pending further investigations – the court having determined her to be a flight risk.
On Thursday the Swedish authorities seized the oil tanker the Sea Owl I, in Swedish water.
The vessel was claiming to be flagged in the Comorros, but the authorities are alleging that the paperwork was forged.
It is also being reported that the crew has been questioned by the Swedish Prosecution Authority and that captain of the vessel has been arrested and has been ordered to be held in custody pending further investigations.
This is the second vessel seized by Sweden in as many weeks.
It is being reported (originally here behind a paywall, and here) that Portugal’s Tax and Customs Authority currently has ongoing investigations into possible breaches and/or circumvention of the EU’s Russian sanctions.
These appear to be separate from, and additional to, those investigations, as per our earlier post, being conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
There have been some high-profile examples of this in the last month or so, but the practice can be seen to have started years ago, while the number of examples made it sensible to gather them all in one place.
The vessels are not all oil tankers but also include bulk cargo carriers and container vessels:
26 February 2022 – France seizes the Baltic Leader
20 April 2022 – Greece seizes the Lana
10 January 2025 – Germany seizes the Eventin
17 January 2025 – Finland seizes the Eagle S
14 April 2025 – Estonia seizes the Kiwala
6 October 2025 – France seizes the Boracay
23 December 2025 – Sweden seizes the Adler
2 January 2026 – Finland seizes the Fitburg
19 January 2026 – Italy seizes the Hizir Reis
27 January 2026 – France seizes the Grinch
20 February 2026 – Denmark seizes the Nora
2 March 2026 – Belgium seizes the Ethera
9 March 2026 – Sweden seizes the Caffa
Updates since original post:
16 March 2026 – Sweden seizes the Sea Owl I
23 March 2026 – France seizes the Deyna
3 April 2026 – Sweden seizes the Flora 1
The Latvian authorities have convicted, and fined, an individual and company for sanctioned timber imports from Russia.
The imports were of 50 packages of timber.
The company which procured the import was fined €39,000, and the individual who arranged the imports was fined €14,800. In addition the individual had the proceeds of the sale (€13,935) confiscated as the proceeds of crime.
As separate prosecution has been brought again the customs agent.
Further to our earlier post regarding his extradition from Italy to Estonia, it is now being reported that Ivan Anchevsky has been sentenced to 3 and a half years jail for prohibited exports of equipment to Russia.
The judgment remains subject to appeal.
The conviction relates to the shipping of equipment from Switzerland to Russia with assistance from Anchevsky and his companies Militec LLC and Militec Europe.
As part of the same trial Anchevsky was acquitted of charges of exporting dual use goods.
On Saturday Swedish authorities took control of the cargo vessel, Caffa. Video of the seizure has been released.
It is being reported that the authorities suspect that the vessel, carrying a cargo of grain, may have been sailing under a false Guinean flag.
A Russian national crew member has been arrested on suspicion of using false documents.
Two previously missed investigations from German customs into luxury car exports to Russia:
After commencing an investigation in December 2024, and raids conducted in May 2025, German Customs obtained an asset freeze over €16.5m.
The investigation is into a 41 year-old German-Moldovan national suspected of exporting 236 vehicles to Russia valued at €18.86m.
Further searches were conducted at properties in Ger and Teuchern in December 2025.
Raids and property searches were carried out in Hamburg relating to a company’s managing director suspected of more than 900 prohibited imports from Russia valued at over €4m.
The press release notes that “due to the ongoing investigations, no statement can yet be made about the type of goods”.
Further to our earlier post regarding the Belgian seizure of the tanker, the Ethera, it is now being reported that 45 infractions have been identified in relation to the flag status and condition of the vessel.
It is also being reported that these infractions will need to be rectified before the vessel will be released and that a €10m payment will need to be made. Different reports (here, here and here) describe this payment as a bond, a bail payment, or a fine.
With today’s post on convictions in Germany, the blog has reached the milestone of 700 posts.
The post also takes European Sanctions Enforcement over several other milestones:
Enforcement across Europe is trending upwards.
