Bitumen smuggling from Russia: over one million euros enters state budget
The Tax and Customs Police uncovered a sanctions evasion scheme in which Russian bitumen was presented as a product manufactured in Kazakhstan. A court ordered the goods confiscated; 1,013,620 euros will go to the Latvian budget.
Russian bitumen disguised as Kazakhstani product — court rules on confiscation
As lvportals.lv reports, the Tax and Customs Police (NMP) initiated a criminal case in 2024 concerning goods imported into the European Union that were subject to international sanctions. Bitumen produced in Russia was imported into the EU, with accompanying documents indicating it as a product manufactured in Kazakhstan.
During the investigation, 3,489 boxes of bitumen were seized — the total weight reached 3,663,450 kg. Investigators succeeded in proving that the true origin of the goods was most likely Russia, not Kazakhstan as claimed in the documents. The importation of bitumen of Russian origin into the EU is prohibited.
The investigation was complicated by the fact that the persons involved in the scheme systematically created a misleading impression about the goods' origin. The criminal case required addressing several procedural and evidentiary problems, including those related to international transaction chains. Only the joint efforts of the State Secured Assets Agency, the Customs Administration of the State Revenue Service, and the Prosecutor General's Office made it possible to achieve the result.
In June 2025, in cooperation with the Tax and Customs Prosecutor's Office, the NMP initiated a separate proceeding concerning criminally obtained property, separating materials from the original criminal case.
In August 2025, Riga City Court ruled to confiscate the seized bitumen in the interests of the state. The 1,013,620.34 euros obtained from its sale were directed to be credited to the Latvian state budget. The persons involved in the scheme appealed the decision, but in May 2026 Riga Regional Court left it unchanged. The court's decision entered into force and is no longer subject to appeal.
The NMP announced that it continues active work at national and international levels to prevent goods subject to sanctions from entering illegal circulation and to protect the economic interests of both Latvia and the entire EU.
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)