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Hannover, 21 March 2025 – Police in Lower Saxony have conducted searches at several locations in connection with suspected arms smuggling from and to Ukraine. This was reported by AFP on Friday, specifying that the main suspects are two men aged 28 and 45 from the Wesermarsch district. This was also reported by DW.
According to the police, the suspects could have hidden weapons in humanitarian aid intended for Ukraine in order to illegally export them from or import them into the country. The investigation is being conducted under the article on violation of the law on military arms control.
The searches took place on 17 March at five sites in the cities of Nordenham and Farel, as well as on the Butjadingen peninsula. Despite thorough checks, no weapons were found during the searches. A police spokesperson said that the results of further investigations should be awaited. “We have seized numerous pieces of evidence, which will now be analysed in detail,” he added, without specifying what types of military weapons might be involved.
It is reported that during the searches, the suspects were found to be in possession of silenced pistols and an air rifle. In Germany, possession of these types of weapons does not require a special permit. However, the 45-year-old man is officially banned from possessing any weapons, and a case has been opened against him for violating the law on weapons possession. As for the 28-year-old suspect, the police found a violation of the rules for the possession of firearms.
This case has drawn attention to the possible abuse of humanitarian channels in the context of the war in Ukraine. While the investigation is ongoing, law enforcement officials do not rule out that the case may reveal a wider smuggling network. At the same time, the absence of weapons found during the searches leaves open the question of the scale and reality of the suspicions.
