On March 27, investigators searched 14 residential and commercial locations in the region around Frankfurt, according to the local customs office.
The European Union placed strict sanctions against Russia in the wake of the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including bans on exporting goods that could be used by the Russian military or munitions industry.
The investigation, led by the Frankfurt public prosecutor's office, is targeting the managers of three companies in particular.
Customs officers seized "voluminous" business documents and storage equipment during the raids and approximately €1 million ($1.2 million) from two of the companies as a "precaution".
The statement also said two of the companies "allegedly exported various machine components and chemicals to Russia on a commercial basis, in violation of an existing ban".
They allegedly used a transport company and other foreign logistics firms to organise the sales through neighbouring countries, obscuring the ultimate destination of the exports.
This clandestine trade was uncovered following a customs inspection of a company that had reportedly supplied Russian buyers.
In a separate case in February, German authorities arrested five people on suspicion of exporting goods worth roughly €30 million to Russia, including to arms companies.
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