A Gabonese company, Ter Assala Parts, imported nearly $1.5 billion worth of aircraft parts to Russia in 2023, despite Western sanctions imposed due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This made it the largest supplier of aircraft parts to Russia for that year. The company is not listed in Gabon’s official trade registry, and an unnamed citizen from Kyrgyzstan is identified as its beneficiary. It is suspected to be a front company registered in another country that conducts business through Gabon. The trade has been described as a “complicated criminal scheme” by economist Igor Lipsitz, who believes high-level officials from Russia and Gabon may be involved in covering it up.
Following the coup in Gabon in August 2023, aircraft parts exports from the country to Russia began, coinciding with a time when the country was seeking closer ties with the global south amid the war in Ukraine. U.S. sanctions targeted some oil tankers sailing under Gabonese flags, indicating Russia’s interest in maintaining relations with the country. The exported goods from Gabon to Russia included various aircraft parts, such as oxygen masks, used computers, and engines for Boeing and Airbus aircraft. In May 2023, Russian nationals were arrested in the United States for illegally sending aircraft parts to Russian airlines, highlighting the illicit trade practices in the industry.
Several Russian firms imported goods from Ter Assala Parts, none of which have apparent connections to the aviation sector. One such company, Protektor, was linked to individuals with ties to other aviation-related businesses. The Russian airline sector has been significantly impacted by Western sanctions and economic challenges following the invasion of Ukraine. However, experts believe that arrangements like those with Gabonese imports indicate that there is no shortage of foreign aircraft parts in Russia. Aviation expert Ilya Shatilin highlighted that there are numerous ways to import spare parts, rendering sanctions ineffective.
The Russian government has been accused of providing carte blanche for the illegal trade activities involving Ter Assala Parts and other companies. Lipsitz suggested that corruption and high-level involvement from both Russian and Gabonese officials may be enabling the illicit trade. The complex criminal scheme involving the illegal import of aircraft parts raises questions about the transparency and accountability of international trade regulations. Despite efforts to restrict Russia’s access to critical aircraft parts through sanctions, these measures have failed to prevent the flow of goods through alternative channels, demonstrating the limitations of such punitive actions.
The involvement of a Gabon-based company in illicit trade activities with Russia underscores the challenges in regulating global commerce and enforcing sanctions. The lack of transparency in the ownership and operation of businesses like Ter Assala Parts highlights the vulnerabilities in the international trade system. The use of front companies to facilitate illegal transactions poses a significant risk to the integrity of trade relationships between countries. The criminal scheme involving the import of aircraft parts from Gabon to Russia reveals the need for greater international cooperation in combating illicit trade practices and enforcing sanctions effectively.
In conclusion, the illicit trade of aircraft parts between Gabon and Russia exposes the loopholes and deficiencies in international trade regulations. The involvement of undisclosed beneficiaries and front companies in facilitating illegal transactions highlights the challenges in enforcing sanctions and regulating global commerce. The complexities of the criminal scheme raise concerns about the integrity and transparency of international trade relationships. Efforts to curb illicit trade practices and ensure accountability among businesses involved in such activities require improved cooperation among countries and enhanced regulatory mechanisms to prevent such violations in the future.
