Vehicle confiscated in Latvia due to infraction of international sanctions
In a significant development, a Lithuanian-registered truck and its trailer were confiscated by authorities on 10 January 2024, following a customs inspection at the Terehova customs checkpoint. The confiscated goods, worth approximately EUR 1,935,683, are subject to ongoing criminal proceedings, which were initiated by the Tax and Customs Police Administration on 12 May 2025.
The prosecutor of the Austrumlatgale Prosecutor's Office has approved these criminal proceedings, and the pre-trial investigation is still ongoing. The financial resources obtained from the confiscated truck and trailer have already been transferred to the state budget.
The investigation revealed that false information about the origin, sender, and recipient of the goods was provided to customs authorities. Intriguingly, during the inspection, a second set of documents was found in the cab of the vehicle, indicating the goods as a truck, contrary to the declared cargo.
Customs officials suspected that the vehicle was being exported as cargo to circumvent Lithuanian sanctions. This case underscores the continued efforts to combat sanctions evasion, particularly in regions like the Baltic states, where countries such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are recognised for their vigilance against sanctions violations, particularly involving timber and wood products.
While this incident does not appear to be directly linked to a specific Lithuanian truck smuggling case involving EU sanctions evasion in 2024, it does highlight the intensified EU-wide crackdown on complex supply chains used to conceal the true origin of goods sanctioned by the EU. This includes the laundering of goods like Russian timber through third countries, such as China, Turkey, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.
For those seeking updates on enforcement actions or investigations related to sanctions evasion, it is recommended to monitor official EU or Lithuanian customs and law enforcement announcements or credible news sources specialising in EU sanction enforcement. At present, further details regarding this case remain unavailable, in the interests of the ongoing investigation.
References: [1] "EU crackdown on Russian timber sanctions evasion", European Commission, 2023. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/single-market/product-policy/timber-and-forest-products/eu-crackdown-russian-timber-sanctions-evasion_en
- The pre-trial investigation following the confiscation of a Lithuanian-registered truck and trailer at the Terehova customs checkpoint, which took place on 10 January 2024, is still ongoing with the Austrumlatgale Prosecutor's Office in Latvia, focusing on the investigation of false information provided regarding the origin, sender, and recipient of the goods worth approximately EUR 1,935,683.
- Despite this incident not being directly linked to a specific Lithuanian truck smuggling case involving EU sanctions evasion in 2024, it demonstrates the ongoing efforts to combat sanctions evasion in the Baltic states, like Latvia, which are known for their vigilance against sanctions violations, particularly involving timber and wood products.
- Stay updated on enforcement actions or investigations related to sanctions evasion by monitoring official EU or Lithuanian customs and law enforcement announcements or credible news sources specializing in EU sanction enforcement, such as those that cover the intensified EU-wide crackdown on complex supply chains used to conceal the true origin of goods sanctioned by the EU.
