Romania raids 12 sites in probe into suspected evasion of EU sanctions on Belarus
Romanian prosecutors and police searched 12 locations Wednesday in an investigation into suspected sanctions evasion involving a €1.7 million dual-use industrial machine allegedly intended for a sanctioned Belarusian entity.
BUCHAREST September 30, 2026 — Romanian police and organized crime prosecutors carried out 12 searches in Bucharest and the counties of Dâmbovița, Bacău and Ilfov on Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspected violations and circumvention of European Union sanctions.
The investigation concerns eight suspects and commercial and technical activities conducted between December 2025 and September 2026 involving the manufacture, sale and transfer of industrial machinery capable of both civilian use and use in producing military equipment, authorities said.
Investigators are examining an industrial VL40 vertical lathe valued at about 1.75 million euros that allegedly was intended for transfer, through intermediaries in third countries, to a Belarusian entity subject to EU restrictive measures.
Authorities said there was evidence that hardware and software components were integrated into machinery and technical parameters modified in ways that gave the equipment characteristics allowing military applications. Investigators also identified alleged commercial arrangements involving companies in third countries designed to conceal the ultimate beneficiary and avoid export-control requirements.
Authorities further allege that attempts were made to obtain export licenses and that operations continued after applications were rejected by the competent authorities. The eight suspects were being questioned at the headquarters of Romania's Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, known as DIICOT.
The European Union maintains extensive sanctions against Belarus, including restrictions on exports of dual-use goods and technology and measures intended to prevent circumvention through third countries. The bloc expanded restrictions affecting Belarus' military, technological and industrial capabilities in April 2026.
Romanian authorities said the suspects retain the presumption of innocence and other procedural rights while the criminal investigation continues.