On February 10, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board identified an attempt to import 170 matryoshka dolls from Russia without declaration through the Luhamaa border crossing; the episode has been joined to an existing criminal case against the same citizen regarding a violation of the sanctions regime.

According to the department, criminal proceedings related to sanctions violations are already underway against the same individual, and the new episode has been added to the existing case. The statement emphasizes: "Since the person is already under investigation for a sanctions violation, the discovered fact is being treated as an additional episode within the same proceedings."

The EU sanctions regime explicitly prohibits the import of several categories of goods from Russia, including decorative and souvenir items, if their value or origin falls under restrictions introduced after February 2022. The current list is established by EU Council Regulation No. 833/2014, as subsequently amended.

According to media reports, Estonian customs recorded an increase in the number of attempts to illegally import sanctioned goods from Russia in 2023–2024: in 2023 alone, more than 300 proceedings were initiated, whereas in 2021, there were fewer than 50.

Narva News also reported that violators most frequently attempt to import electronics, auto parts, alcohol, tobacco products, and souvenir merchandise. The publication cites Customs Control Director Märt Öösaar: "Attempts to circumvent sanctions continue, but most are detected at the border crossing stage."

The Narva News portal previously noted that at Estonia's southeastern border points, the share of small batches of goods transported by individuals—including souvenirs, household appliances, and interior items—has increased. According to the publication, the number of such detected cases in 2024 rose by 40% compared to 2022.

In a comparable European context, similar trends are being recorded in Finland and Latvia. Finnish Customs reported that in 2023, more than 1,200 attempts to illegally export or import sanctioned goods were detected, compared to about 200 in 2021. The Latvian State Revenue Service pointed to a fourfold increase in sanctions-related criminal cases between 2022 and 2024.

Under Estonian criminal law, the violation of international sanctions is qualified under Section $93^1$ of the Penal Code and provides for a fine or imprisonment for a term of up to five years.

According to Narva News, 8 court sentences were handed down for sanctions violations in Estonia in 2022, and 21 in 2023, with maximum fines reaching 400,000 euros for legal entities.