An Israeli man has pleaded guilty to smuggling aircraft parts into Russia through the Maldives.

Gal Haimovich, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export control and smuggling violations for his role in a scheme to illegally ship aircraft parts and avionics from US manufacturers and suppliers to Russia.

He smuggled the goods to Russia after first importing the goods to Maldives and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The US imposed sanctions against Russian airlines over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Haimovich bought some goods from the US, claiming that they were to be imported to the Maldives.

Between April 2022 and April 2023, Haimovich arranged for more than 160 shipments to the Maldives and the UAE.

Haimovich, who had been hired by Siberia Airlines to deliver the aircraft component to Russia, directed a co-conspirator to falsely inform the US supplier that the part was destined for the Maldives.

But he confessed that he was aware that the part was destined for Russia for the benefit of S7 Airlines.

He also admitted that between March 2022 and May 2023, he billed Russian customers, including Siberia Airlines more than USD 2 million to have aircraft parts and avionics illegally exported from the US to Russia.

In connection with Haimovich’s plea, he agreed to the entry of a forfeiture money judgment in the sum of USD 2,024,435 and to forfeit various aircraft parts and components.

He is now scheduled to be sentenced in November.