Infrastructure and Transport (including energy) – European Sanctions Enforcement

January 19, 2026January 19, 2026 by Mark Handley

Germany – maritime authorities turn away shadow fleet vessel

Last week the German authorities ordered the vessel Tavian not to enter German territorial waters after inspection of the ship’s papers resulted in a finding that the vessel was sailing under a false flag and with a fake IMO number, and a suspicion that the tanker was being used to ship Russian oil.

The vessel complied with the order and turned around before returning to the North Sea and turning off its transponder.

Other reports include a comment from the Bundespolizei that they could not comment on an “ongoing operational procedure”.

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 by Mark Handley

Poland – individual charged for importing inflatable vessel from Belarus

Polish authorities have charged an individual after attempting to import an inflatable vessel into Poland from Belarus.

The individual is a Belarusian national, and the inflatable craft was identified by Polish customs at the Terespol border checkpoint.

December 23, 2025December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

Sweden – Customs board distressed Russian vessel in Swedish waters

After a Russian vessel had engine trouble and entered Swedish territorial waters, Swedish Customs boarded the vessel and commenced an investigation into whether possible sanctions or export control offences may have been committed.

The vessel, the Adler, is designated under EU sanctions, and the owner sanctioned by the US. It is reported that the cargo included arms and military equipment.

It is now being reported that the vessel has been allowed to depart Swedish waters, after the Prosecutor’s Office declined to open a criminal investigation, on the basis that there was no intent to being the vessel or its goods into Sweden.

December 3, 2025December 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation into businesses alleged to have exported €10m in luxury cars to Russia

It is being reported that the Munich Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a number of businesses suspected of exporting 50 luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The cars are said to be valued at €10 million, including one car fitted with armour valued at €650,000.

The report alleges that the exports were done via third countries including Kazakhstan.

November 25, 2025November 25, 2025 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – trial commenced of shipbuilder for sanctioned exports to Russia

Further to our earlier post, the prosecution trial of Damen Shipping has commenced in the Netherlands.

The company has denied the allegations, which include that it falsified customs declarations to enable the export of 14 deck cranes to Russia during 2022 in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

Senior management have also been charged with sanctions offences.

The trial includes charges of bribery against Damen.

November 21, 2025November 25, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – raids in relation to export of hundreds of luxury cars to Russia

It is being reported that seven residential and commercial premises in the Steinfurt area were raided on 20 November by Customs officers from Essen, Münster and Osnabrück.

The raids relate to allegations that three individuals (aged 57, 32 and 27) were involved in the export of 346 luxury cars to Russia via third countries in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The exports are said to have taken place between 2022 and 2024 and have totalled approximately €20m in value.

The report adds that assets (including real estate, cars and bank accounts) valued at €20m have been seized as part of the investigation.

November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by Mark Handley

Sweden – Swedish Customs sanctions enforcement

The Swedish Police have issued a report on sanctions compliance in the country, concluding that trade flows to countries neighbouring Russia suggests Swedish involvement in the circumvention of the EU’s sanctions.

In relation to the work of Swedish customs, the report noted that in 2023 more than 200 export shipments were stopped, and that 3,000 export declarations in 2024 were “subject to special review measures”.

The press release to the report notes that “a handful of preliminary investigations [are] underway regarding sanctions violations at the Police Authority and at Swedish Customs”.

The report also highlights an earlier 2024 report by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority on the outcome of its review of the sanctions screening processes and methodologies of 19 banks operating in Sweden. The report noted that none of the banks assessed had good enough automatic screening in place, but that the larger banks were better at screening than the small and medium sized banks.

November 19, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – sanctions trial begins of individuals suspected of exporting €28m in luxury cars

The trial has commenced in Berlin of Evgeniya P., Wladimir K. and Ekaterina M. Only Evgeniya P. is before the court, the others are being tried in absentia.

The three are alleged to have exported 257 luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions with a value of €28.2m.

The exports are reported to have been completed via Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan or Turkey.

November 10, 2025 by Mark Handley

France – extradition to the US to face Russian export charges

On 4 November, the US Justice Department issued a press release following the extradition from France of Yana Leonova to face charges of exports of aviation equipment to Russia in breach of US sanctions.

The press release gives little information on when she was arrested or whether the extradition was contested.

It is alleged that she falsified the final destinations for exports and used a variety of front companies in Armenia, the Maldives and elsewhere.

November 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation into alleged luxury car exports

German Customs has issued a 16 July Press release relating to raids and an investigation into alleged exports of luxury cars worth €3.4m to Russia.

The investigation was prompted by a suspicious activity report made to Germany’s FIU.

The investigation involves Hamburg Customs Investigation Office and the Hanover Public Prosecutor’s Office.

It is alleged that the exporter made false customs declarations purporting to indicate that the cars were destined for non-sanctioned countries, while the investigators determined that the cars were all subsequently registered in Russia.