On January 11, 1990, the tarpaulin-covered tanks on twelve platforms were found on the access railroads at the Novorossiysk station declared as tractors in the accompanying documents.
There were rumors and some evidence about involvement of high KGB officials: ANT was given significant rights for import and export without any licensing.
The chairman of ANT, Vladimir Ryashentsev, escaped to the United States, where he engaged in commerce.
There Ryashentsev presented the documents about the order for the refurbishment of tanks as tractors, but somehow they were shipped with no work done.
However the investigators claimed (and provided proofs) that Ryashentsev knew that they were actual tanks.