Success for US justice – smuggling of military technology to Russia stopped

The suspects are accused, among other things, of purchasing semiconductors and microprocessors from the US that are used in Russia, for example in combat aircraft, radar equipment, missile systems or satellites. Some electronic components were later seized on the battlefield in Ukraine. Other suspects are accused of smuggling a crusher into Russia that could be used in nuclear weapons and defense programs, among other things. According to representatives of the Connecticut prosecutor’s office, the machine was intercepted in time in Riga.

Oil from Venezuela and money laundering
Another US lawsuit concerns hundreds of millions of barrels of oil from Venezuela. A Hamburg company and Venezuela’s state oil company are said to have smuggled them to Russian and Chinese customers. Prosecutors say they used a complex system of front companies and bank accounts to cover up the transaction. Cash couriers and cryptocurrency transfers in Russia and Latin America were used to launder the proceeds. Freight documents are said to have been forged and navigation systems of supertankers have been exposed.

“Our investigators and prosecutors will be tireless in their efforts to identify, track down and bring to justice those whose illegal actions undermine the rule of law and enable the Russian regime to continue its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said. . Eleven suspects and several companies were charged. Among them are the director of the Hamburg company, Yuri Orechow, two Venezuelan oil traders, three people from Latvia and one from Ukraine. The US Treasury Department has also imposed sanctions on Orekhov and two of his companies.