European Sanctions Enforcement

December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

Lithuania – raids as part of investigation into sanctioned exports to Russia and Belarus

It is being reported (here and here) that Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service and the State Security Department, with coordinating assistance from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, are undertaking an investigation into suspected breaches of the EU’s Russian and Belarus sanctions by Lithuanian, Russian and Belarus individuals.

It is alleged that those involved forged documents to obtain funding from the EU Space Agency, and that the money was then used (with other funds) by a company incorporated in Lithuania to obtain and export microchips, semiconductors, navigation systems, and other technical devices to Russia and Belarus.

In total 10 raids were conducted, and 5 individuals and one company are under investigation.

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 23, 2025December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

Latvia – raids and arrest for alleged sanctions breaches

It is being reported that Latvia’s State Security Service conducted a number of raids, and arrested an individual suspected of breaching the EU’s sanctions against Russia.

It is being reported that the individual is Viktors Guščins, who is alleged to have provided an economic resource to a designated person in the form of publications and propaganda material.

December 23, 2025December 23, 2025 by Mark Handley

France – Lafarge sanctions trial ends with verdict due in April 2026

After a six-week trial, verdict in the Lafarge prosecution is now expected on 13 April 2026.

The Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a fine of €1.125 million, as well as a fine of €4.57 million that is directly related to the alleged breaches of EU sanctions.

The prosecution is also seeking lengthy jail terms for the eight individual defendants of between 18 months and 8 years, including 6 years for the former CEO, as well as a €225,000 fine and a 10-year ban on serving in any management position in a company.

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 by Mark Handley

United Kingdom – OTSI provides enforcement update

The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation has published a report on its first year of operations.

In relation to enforcement it says that it has “a number of investigations underway”, and that it has “referred a significant number of cases to HMRC and other government partners”.

No other information is provided, although further information is promised in the 2026 Annual Report.

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – report that there are 6,000 criminal proceedings for Russian and Belarus sanctions breaches ongoing

It is being reported in an article published in trans.info that the German authorities currently have approximately 6000 criminal proceedings for sanctions offences that are ongoing.

This number is said to be specific to the EU’s Russian and Belarusian sanctions regimes.

No further information is provided on the status of the cases.

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Mark Handley

Latvia – prosecution for providing professional services to Russian companies

Latvia’s VDD has asked the Prosecution Office to commence a prosecution of a latvian national for providing prohibited services to companies in Russia.

As per the press release: “DD found that the Latvian citizen had entered into employment contracts with multiple companies registered in Russia, where the person held the positions of general director and director and directly gave prohibited consultations on economic activities, management and taxation”.

This prosecution is one of several recently launched in Latvia (see our earlier post) in relation to alleged breaches of the prohibitions contained in regulation 5n of 833/2014.

December 8, 2025December 8, 2025 by Mark Handley

United Kingdom – Gambling Commission fine of £825,000 including for sanctions screening failures

The UK’s Gambling Commission has fined Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Limited, trading as Betfred £825,000.

While much of the fine relates to player welfare and AML issues, it is being reported that part of the fine relates to the lack of an “effective policy for identifying and handling customers who might be subject to financial sanctions”.

This is not the first fine by the Gambling Commission related to sanctions compliance, as two other operators were fined in April 2024.

December 4, 2025December 4, 2025 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – further arrests and raids related to Damen Shipping

it is now being reported that the raids conducted by FIOD earlier this week (see our earlier post) relate to a new and further investigation into alleged Russian sanctions breaches by Damen Shipping, and that the raids included searches conducted at the home of the former Damen CEO.

This new investigation is said to be unrelated to the ongoing trial in which Damen is being prosecuted for alleged Russian sanctions breaches.

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.