The arrests took place in Lübeck and Lauenburg in northern Germany on Monday, according to federal prosecutors. All five are German citizens, but two also hold Russian citizenship and one holds Ukrainian citizenship.
The men are suspected of having been part of a larger network that sent goods with a total value of more than the equivalent of 300 million kronor to companies in Russia, including around 20 weapons manufacturers.
The shipment was made by sea across the Baltic Sea. Prosecutors say the operation was "likely run by Russian state actors."
