MOSCOW, June 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russian police and a Federal Security Service (FSB) economic crimes unit are investigating suspected corruption among senior customs service officials, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

In 2012, the head of a Russian Federal Customs Service department helped unspecified third parties to get special documents granting their vehicles and the goods in them exemption from customs inspection, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Although such exemptions are usually only issued to the security and other special services, the suspect provided them to individuals who had nothing to do with law enforcement.

Police are also looking into the possible handover of cash to the suspect customs official in return for his “services,” the ministry said.

The offices of the customs officials in question are currently being searched as part of the investigation, the ministry said.