The Department of Justice said Tuesday that two Americans and five Russians were charged in an indictment with operating a sophisticated international smuggling network that obtained sensitive U.S. military technology.
The network was set up in order to escape U.S. sanctions. Russia was hit with further sanctions by the Biden administration.
The DOJ stated that three of the seven defendants are in custody. Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected officer in Russia's intelligence service, was arrested in Estonia at the request of the US.
Two Americans were taken into custody on Tuesday.
"With three of the defendants now in custody, we have disrupted the procurement network allegedly used by the defendants and Russian intelligence services to smuggle sniper rifle ammunition and sensitive electronic components into Russia."
According to the Justice Department, Konoshchenok was stopped on the Estonian-Russian border with 20 cases containing thousands of U.S.-origin bullets, including rounds and.338 military sniper rounds.
The United States and Europe have cut off military supplies to Russia.
The "Serniya network" created dozens of front corporations to hide millions of dollars in payments for military technology. They were routed through Europe, Asia, and North America before reaching their final destination in Russia.
The prosecutors requested bail standards for the two US based defendants.
The charges are very serious and involve a foreign power that is engaged in armed conflict.
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