Email blunder exposes $90bn Russian oil smuggling ring
Financial Times
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
An email blunder has unveiled a massive $90 billion Russian oil smuggling ring involving a network of companies sharing the same server. The operation includes a lesser-known group that has emerged as Russia's largest oil exporter. This revelation raises significant concerns over global oil market integrity and potential regulatory lapses.
The incident highlights how a simple oversight in email communication exposed the intricate web of companies involved in this vast smuggling operation. Investigators traced the connection through shared digital infrastructure, revealing a complex network engaged in exporting large volumes of oil, bypassing sanctions and evading taxes.
This case underscores the challenges faced by international regulators in monitoring cross-border oil transactions. The scale of the operation—$90 billion annually—suggests systemic issues in how oil exports are tracked and reported, potentially undermining global energy market stability.
The exposure of this ring could have far-reaching implications for the oil industry, prompting stricter oversight measures and reforms in export reporting. It also raises questions about the roles of intermediaries and logistics providers that facilitate such operations, often operating in legal gray areas.
For businesses and investors, this story highlights the importance of due diligence in supply chains to avoid complicity in illegal activities. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the
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Originally published on Financial Times on 2/20/2026