Finland is investigating the sale and export of the tugboat to the Russian Federation
19.08.2023 - 15:10
The Customs of Finland has launched an investigation into the sale of a tugboat and its export to Russia.
According to preliminary information, the sale of the vessel was carried out to bypass EU sanctions, reports rosZMI.
Finnish customs suspects that in this way the country violated the sanctions that prohibit the export of all water vessels.
The vessel, sold in Finland, was delivered to Russia last weekend. On August 14, the customs began a preliminary investigation into possible evasion of sanctions.
“We are investigating this case as a serious administrative crime. For reasons, we are not disclosing this matter in more detail at this time, but we will say more as soon as it is possible from the point of view of the investigation,” commented Petteri Nevalainen, head of the Economic Crime Investigation Department.
The customs office promises to announce the details of the investigation in September.
According to Finnish media, it is the tug Thetis, which previously belonged to the shipping company Alfons Hakans. It was sold in July this year, and it was in the port of Turku until August 11, after which the vessel was allegedly towed to St. Petersburg.
