Spanish police intercepted 13 tons of chemicals in Barcelona’s port, suspected to be bound for Russia with potential use in chemical weapons production. This seizure led to the arrest of four individuals linked to a criminal group allegedly circumventing Western sanctions. The group reportedly utilized a front company to illegally ship chemicals to Russia. Authorities, including Spain’s national police and tax service, reported that the chemicals were managed through a complex logistics and financial network. The group created shell companies in Moscow, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan to obscure the actual destination. Reuters reported on this development, highlighting the international implications regarding chemical weapons and sanctions.

The arrested suspects were detained in the areas surrounding Barcelona, specifically in the villages of Sant Feliu de Guixols, Cerdanyola del Vallès, and Santa Perpetua de Mogoda. These individuals face smuggling charges related to prohibited goods. The Spanish police stated that past shipments from the same company included chemicals under international sanctions, some of which could be precursors for chemical weapons or nerve agents. The investigation revealed efforts to disguise the chemical shipments from international monitoring. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about chemical weapon use and underscores violations against the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as reported by

ملخص الأخبار

• التحقيقات أفادت بأن الشركة الإسبانية استخدمت شبكة لوجستية ومالية معقدة لتصدير المواد الكيميائية إلى روسيا.
• الشركة أنشأت شركات وهمية في أرمينيا وقرغيزستان لإخفاء الوجهة الحقيقية للمواد الكيميائية.
• المواد الكيميائية تستخدم كعوامل شغب من بعد الاستخدام ضد القوات الأوكرانية من قبل القوات الروسية.
• تاريخياً، تم تصدير مواد كيميائية خاضعة للعقوبات الدولية من خلال نفس الشركة.