Four people have been arrested in Belgium under suspicion of illegally exporting so-called "sensitive" materials and technologies to countries under embargo, which is understood to be Russia.
In an FBI investigation in collaboration with the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office, a number of searches were carried out this morning under the direction of an investigating judge in West Flanders. Four Belgians and two Dutch nationals were detained and questioned.
The case focuses on the trade and brokering of "dual-use" goods to countries with legal restrictions. "These are items that can be used for both civilian and military applications, such as drones or missiles. Examples include microchips, accelerometers and turbine engines," a press release from the Federal Prosecutor's Office stated.
Investigators want to ascertain whether these strategic, protected technologies may have been traded to countries under embargo or sanctions, both under Belgium and the European Parliament, and particularly as a result of armed conflict.
The investigation should reveal whether these strategic and protected technologies may have been traded to countries on which Belgium and the European Parliament have imposed legal restrictions. "Some traded technologies could also be subject to embargo rules that apply to certain countries, such as Russia," the statement noted.
The simultaneous searches took place in private homes and corporate headquarters in the municipalities of Knokke-Heist and Eeklo in Belgium, and Rotterdam and Sluis in the Netherlands.
This investigation was launched on the basis of information from US authorities, who were investigating the illegal export of dual-use goods from the United States and money laundering. Throughout the case there has been deep cooperation with US government agencies, the Prosecutor's Office noted.
The prosecution is not giving any further details for the time being.
In February 2022, the European Union imposed wide-ranging restrictions on trade in goods on Russia, including dual-use goods, as well as for the oil refining, aviation and space sector, after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
