Poland seizes tyres for Boeing aircraft headed for Russia

WARSAW: Poland’s customs seized 5 metric tons of tyres for civilian Boeing aircraft which were due to transit through Belarus and Russia, the country’s National Revenue Administration said on Monday, adding such goods are covered by European Union sanctions.

Western countries have imposed broad-ranging sanctions against Russia and its ally Belarus since Moscow’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Western planemakers, including Airbus and Boeing, have halted supplies of services and spare parts and dropped regular maintenance support for planes.

“Officers… discovered during the inspection of a truck in Koroszczyn that the driver was transporting tyres used in Boeing civil planes instead of the declared car and bus tyres,” the National Revenue Administration said.

“The sender of the goods was a company from Spain, and the recipient was from Azerbaijan. Criminal fiscal proceedings were initiated in connection with customs fraud. The sanctioned goods were detained.”

The Poland statement did not identify the manufacturer of the tyres. Boeing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

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Shortly after the invasion in 2022, Boeing said it was suspending parts, maintenance and technical support for Russian airlines as well as major operations in Moscow. It also said it was strictly adhering to export controls and restrictions.

Russia’s aviation industry, heavily reliant on foreign-made planes, is struggling to provide enough planes to meet demand for air travel.