The government of Russia announced its Federal Security Service (FSB), Saratov Branch, has broken up two organized crime rings -- both selling counterfeit, defective and used bearings into the aviation repair industry.

All of the parts involved are required to have certifications, but those certifications were all forgeries.

Bearings are among the key components, including electronic instruments, the crime rings sold to aviation service facilities across Russia for the past two or three years.

While some of the bearings were simply counterfeit, others had been intercepted and salvaged from manufacturer defects; still others were used bearings removed from discarded subassemblies.

Five separate cases are reportedly pending; no estimate was given as to the number of bearings which may have been installed, or the potential impact on public safety.