According to YLE, the export of drones to Russia is linked to sanctions evasion in September, which the Eastern Uusimaa District Court is investigating. In both cases, two Finnish companies of which the same person is responsible are suspected. Even the suspected crimes are the same.
Same case?
In mid-September the United States sanctioned two Vantaa companies, Siberica and Luminor. The companies were blacklisted for exporting banned products to Russia. For businesses, this meant that US companies were not allowed to sell them products without proper authorization.
Siberica and Luminor share the same owner and CEO. He was jailed in the New Zealand Eastern District Court on September 18, just days after the US decision. In total there are six suspects.
Yesterday Finnish customs announced the discovery of drone trafficking, and according to the agency’s data, there were 3,500 drones and other goods subject to sanctions on the way from Finland to Kazakhstan, but they remained in Russia.
People linked to the companies are suspected of committing an aggravated regulatory crime and exporting military equipment, and there are also six suspects in total.
According to Toll, one of the two companies purchased sanctioned products, while the other engaged in exports. More than 30 batches of goods were transported. According to Hannu Sinkkonen, director of customs supervision, information obtained during the preliminary investigation shows that the activity was directed and financed by Russia.
A man born in Estonia has a French passport
Siberica is a warehousing company and Luminor operates in the shipping and rental sector. Luminor employs one person, Siberica employs two.
The owner and CEO of both companies is French citizen Gabriel Temin. He was born in Estonia in 1980. Temin is 43 years old and has resided permanently in Finland since 1991.
Both companies’ revenue grew strongly in 2022, as Russia began war in Ukraine. Luminor’s revenue increased sevenfold. In 2021 it was around 2 million euros and last year it was 14.7 million euros. The company made a profit of 447,000 euros.
Siberica’s turnover went from 480,000 euros to 687,000 euros. However, the company recorded a loss of 23,000 euros. Temin also recorded Luminor in France and Serbia.
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2023-12-06 10:54:57
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