2026 – European Sanctions Enforcement

March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Mark Handley

Sweden – raids on “large company” and two arrests in sanctions investigation

Sweden’s Public Prosecutor has issued a press release making public raids conducted this morning at the premises of an unnamed “large company” in Sundsvall.

Two unnamed “people in senior positions” have also been arrested on suspicion of aggravated sanctions violations.

The press release does not include information on the suspected breaches.

Given the web links to information on Sweden’s Russian sanctions included in the press release, the investigation is very likely to relate to suspected breaches of the EU’s Russian sanctions.

March 23, 2026March 23, 2026 by Mark Handley

Finland – three investigated for €17m in exports of trucks and trailers to Russia and 43 sanctions investigations by Customs in 2025

Finland’s Customs has issued a press release relating to a criminal investigation into the alleged export of 135 trucks and 29 trailers to Russia from Finland in 2022 and 2023.

It is alleged that the destination of the exports was Kazakhstan or Turkey with Russia only as used for transit, but that the vehicles remained in Russia. The vehicles are valued at €17m.

One individual, the owner of the company, has been detained pending further investigation on suspicion of an aggravated sanctions offence, and two employees are also suspects.

Finland’s Customs does not name the company involved, but press reporting has suggested it is Idän Liikennevälitys IL oy from Lappeenranta.

Customs also state that this case is part of a larger investigation into the export of 558 trucks and 45 trailers to Russia valued at €79m.

The same Customs press release states the during 2025 Customs identified 43 sanctions offences of which 17 were classed as “aggravated”.

March 23, 2026March 23, 2026 by Mark Handley

France – another sanctioned “shadow fleet” tanker seized in Mediterranean

On Friday the French authorities, with British Royal Navy support, boarded and seized the tanker the MV Deyna which was sailing from Murmansk to Port Said. It was off the coast of Algeria in the western Mediterranean at the time of the boarding.

The MV Deyna is a designated vessel under the EU’s Russian sanctions and a specified ship under the UK’s Russian sanctions.

The vessel is registered in Mozambique and said to be carrying Russian crude.

According to data from Vesselfinder.com the tanker is now off the southern coast of France at Fos-sur-Mer.

The same website indicates that it left its last port on 1 March. If this date is right, and the vessel was carrying Russian crude, then it would have been benefitting from the US sanctions waiver for Russian crude that was “on the water” as of 12 March at the time that it was seized.

This serves as a reminder, if one were needed, of the complexities of navigating the interlocking and overlapping sanctions regimes that are in place.

Our page tracking such seizures has been updated.

March 20, 2026March 20, 2026 by Mark Handley

United Kingdom – corporate registry moves to dissolve entities sanctioned by the U.S. as related to the IRGC

The OCCRP has reported on actions taken by England’s Companies House to dissolve the company, and crypto exchange, Zedxion Exchange Ltd.

Zedxion is an SDN under U.S. sanctions for its links to Babak Zanjani (another SDN) and the IRGC.

Companies House has posted a notice on the pages for Zedxion stating:

“The registrar is intending to take, or has taken, steps to strike off this company under section 1002A of the Companies Act 2006. This relates to information or a statement in an application for incorporation that is misleading, false or deceptive.“

As per the OCCRP the false, misleading or deceptive information appears to relate to the identification information provided as to the shareholder, and person of significant control, of Zedxion.

March 20, 2026 by Mark Handley

Germany – individual charged with exporting luxury cars to Russia

Further to our earlier post, following raids in November 2025, the German authorities have issued a press release reporting on the charging of a 57-year old from Dessau-Rosslau, with exporting €7.6m worth of luxury cars to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

It is alleged that he has been responsible for the export of 236 cars, and is facing 154 charges.

March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 by Mark Handley

Latvia – 11 year jail sentence for exporting Starlink kits to the Russian military

The Latvia Prosecutor’s office has secured a conviction and 11-year jail term against an Azerbaijani national.

Three other defendants (including two Latvian nationals) are to be tried separately.

The man was convicted for his role in exporting dozens of Starlink Mini Kits to the Russian military, as well as “other goods used for military activities, including weapons parts, cartridge shells, bullets, ballistic weather meters, in total worth about 200, 000 euros”.

As well as sanctions offences the man was convicted of being part of an organised group to assist a foreign state in undermining the territorial integrity and independence of a democratic state.

In addition to the 11-year jail term, upon release he will be expelled from Latvia and be subject to a 5-year ban on re-entry.

This is the longest known sentence for breach of the EU’s Russian sanctions.

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026 by Mark Handley

Spain – prosecution for military exports to Russia

It is being reported that the Spanish authorities are bringing a criminal prosecution for suspected exports of military aircraft engines to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

One individual, Olga V, has been in custody since her arrest in 2023. Another individual, Kostiantyn Antonovich Kucher, former Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Industrial Policy, is in detention in Azerbaijan pending extradition proceedings to bring him to Spain.

It is alleged that the two, and a network of companies (including Aero Design Systems and Global Force Technology), sought to export aircraft engines to Russia including to the United Aircraft Corporation.

The investigation has included the seizure of three engines by German customs.

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026 by Mark Handley

Estonia – two companies and two people investigated for alleged exports of 209 cars to Russia

It is being reported that the Estonian authorities are investigating a large-scale scheme to export luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

Two individuals and two companies are suspected of exporting 209 vehicles valued at €25 million.

So far one individual, an Estonian national, has been arrested and is in custody pending further investigations – the court having determined her to be a flight risk.

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026 by Mark Handley

Sweden – shadow fleet oil tanker seized and captain arrested

On Thursday the Swedish authorities seized the oil tanker the Sea Owl I, in Swedish water.

The vessel was claiming to be flagged in the Comorros, but the authorities are alleging that the paperwork was forged.

It is also being reported that the crew has been questioned by the Swedish Prosecution Authority and that captain of the vessel has been arrested and has been ordered to be held in custody pending further investigations.

This is the second vessel seized by Sweden in as many weeks.

March 11, 2026March 11, 2026 by Mark Handley

Portugal – Tax and Customs Authority with ongoing Russian sanctions investigations

It is being reported (originally here behind a paywall, and here) that Portugal’s Tax and Customs Authority currently has ongoing investigations into possible breaches and/or circumvention of the EU’s Russian sanctions.

These appear to be separate from, and additional to, those investigations, as per our earlier post, being conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.