The charges were brought against Kaunas-based wind mill company Naujoji Ranga and its director Nerijus Pečiokas who could be sentenced to 3-9 years in prison.
Pečiokas and his colleagues found an online ad about a FV432 armored personnel carrier on sale in Great Britain, settled the price and the seller shipped the vehicle to the port of Klaipėda.
Customs officers allowed the cargo into Lithuania. According to the Lietuvos Rytas, the company's employees took a ride on the new vehicle in Jurbarkas district, making local headlines.
The vehicle drew attention of local police, and an investigation launched by the Customs Criminal Service revealed that Naujoji Ranga did not have a special license for imports of military machinery.
FV432 is a strategic dual function vehicle, which can be armed with 7.62 mm machine guns. The armored personnel vehicles are still used by Armed Forces of Great Britain, India and some other countries.
The Kaunas businessmen told the authorities they had received all the necessary permits in Great Britain and were certain they were enough for a legitimate deal. The police believe the businessmen had no evil intentions.
The armored vehicle has been seized by the authorities.
