KHABAROVSK, August 28 (RAPSI) – A businessman in the Khabarovsk Territory is suspected of importing pork and beef from the United States in violation of law, RIA Novosti reported on Thursday, citing regional department of the Federal Customs Service.

The businessman, whose name is withheld, owned the company which had contracts with foreign firms. In order to lower customs duties the company submitted fake documents understating delivery prices, according to investigators.

Seven criminal cases have been opened over the large-scale imports of products in violation of law. The businessman and his accomplices face up to 12 years in prison.

On Wednesday, customs officers in the Primorye Territory reportedly seized over 100 tons of sausages and chicken meat produced in the US which were placed on the Russian blacklist.

Earlier in August Russia imposed an embargo on food imports from the EU, the United States and other Western countries for one year in response to the sanctions introduced against Russia. The ban includes beef, pork, poultry, fruit, vegetables, cheese, dairy, nuts and other products. Later some food products, including lactose-free milk and dairy products, young salmon and trout, some vegetables and nutritional supplements, were removed out of blacklist.