German authorities raid firms suspected of Russia sanctions violations

Entrance door of a building homing a business center where the microelectronics trading company Azu International, registered by Gokturk Agvaz, has its offices in Istanbul, Turkey, November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

(Reuters) - German authorities searched the premises of three companies early Thursday as part of an ongoing probe into the possible violation of European Union sanctions against Russia, prosecutors said in a statement.

The raids followed a Reuters investigation in December into the supply chain that has continued to ship billions of dollars worth of electronic components to Russia despite Western export restrictions and manufacturer bans.