Poland seizes hidden shipment of Boeing jet tyres being smuggled into Russia

Poland has stopped five tonnes of tyres being smuggled into Russia. (Image: Getty)

Polish officials have seized five tons of Boeing aircraft tyres bound for Belarus and Russia in what the EU nation calls a breach of European sanctions.

Many European and Western governments have imposed heavy sanctions against Russia and its ally, Belarus, since President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

Shortly after, Boeing confirmed it would suspend parts, maintenance and technical support for Russian airlines along with major operations in Moscow.

Russia's aviation sector was hit hard by the sanctions due to heavy reliance on foreign-made planes and parts. Reports suggest the country is struggling to provide enough planes to meet demand for air travel.

Heavy sanctions have prevented many goods being exported to Russia since the country invaded Ukraine (Image: Getty)

The shipment containing the tires was falsely declared to be truck and bus tires and was eventually blocked in the eastern village of Koroszczyn, at a border crossing with Belarus.

"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," Poland's National Revenue Administration described.

"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 administration reiterated that the transport of such goods through Belarus and Russia is subject to European sanctions.

“The sender of the goods was a company from Spain, and the recipient was from Azerbaijan," It added.

“Criminal fiscal proceedings were initiated in connection with customs fraud. The sanctioned goods were detained.”

Russian airlines have adopted new methods to acquire foreign-made parts, with customs records indicating items such as cabin pressure valves and landing gear have arrived in Russia through middlemen in countries that have not endorsed sanctions on Moscow.