Estonian security services have handed over to the United States an alleged agent of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), suspected of smuggling American ammunition to Russia.
As reported on Saturday by the news agency of the Baltic states BNS, Vadim Konoshchenko, a citizen Russia suspected of being an employee of the FSB, he is accused of smuggling strictly regulated electronics and ammunition of American origin.
Breon Peace, attorney for the Eastern District of New York, admitted that Konoshchenko is one of the key smugglers working for Russia. The detainee is suspected of being part of a network to buy “highly sensitive electronic components, some of which may be used in the development of nuclear and hypersonic weapons, quantum computers and other military applications”, as well as sniper ammunition.
The process was supposed to start in 2017.
In October 2022, the man was detained in Estoniawhen he tried to cross the border into Russia, carrying 35 types of semiconductors and thousands produced in USA 6.5mm bullets used in sniper rifles.
Vadim Konoshchenko in a photo shared in December 2022 by the US Department of Justicejustice.gov
In November, he was detained again, carrying about 20 cases of U.S.-made tactical bullets and sniper rounds. The Russian’s business documents stated that the ammunition supplies were “car parts”. After his arrest, the Estonian authorities searched his son’s warehouse and found ammunition there as well.
Main photo source: justice.gov