It was announced today by HMRC that it had fined an unnamed UK exporter £109,312.50 for the unlicensed exports of military goods.
No further information was published.
Germany – company managers charged over suspected weapons exports
Prosecutors in Kiel, northern Germany, have charged five managers of the arms manufacturer Sig Sauer on suspicion of the unlicensed export of arms to Colombia.
The charges arise out of the export of 36,000 pistols to Colombian police, exported via a US subsidiary.
Reports state that the investigation started in 2014. Prosecutors are seeking custodial sentences and a corporate fine of €12 million.
UK – OFSI Annual report: enforcement statistics
OFSI has published its Annual Report for 2017-2018. In it OFSI states that they received 122 reports of suspected breaches of financial sanctions with a reported value of £1.35 billion.
OFSI has also stated that it expects to levy its first fines during 2018-2019 and that the “majority of cases… will be resolved by enforcement activity short of a penalty”.
Norway – investigation confirmed into possible Crimean exports
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that an investigation has been commenced into alleged exports of titanium ore to Crimea by the Norwegian company Titania Kronos.
The allegation relates to exports to Russia onboard to HHL Mississippi which were then directed to Crimea.
Paris court opens investigation into technology sales to Egypt
An investigation has been initiated by the Paris High Court in relation to sales of intelligence and surveillance equipment to Egypt by Nexa Technologies.
The investigation follows charges brought filed by two French activist groups – the Foundation Internationale des Ligues Droits de L’homme and the Ligue Droits de L’Homme – with the Crimes Against Humanity division of the High Court.
France – eight individuals charged in Lafarge-Holcim investigation
The French authorities have charged former Lafarge-Holcim CEOs, Eric Olsen and Bruno Lafont as well former deputy managing director Christian Herrault, along with 5 other individuals on suspicion of making payments in breach of EU sanctions to terrorist groups in Syria, and crimes against humanity.
Netherlands – criminal fine imposed for breach of Russian sanctions
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has obtained a criminal fine of €50,000 against an unnamed Dutch freight solutions company.
The company had sought to ship radar equipment for Sukhoi jet fighters from Malaysia to Russia. The consignment was intercepted at Schiphol Airport. The sale was in breach of both European export controls, as the products were included on the EU’s Military List, and in breach of Russian sanctions which would have prohibited the granting of an export licence.
No licence had been applied for.
An individual was acquitted of a related offence.
France – investigators raid Lafarge-Holcim
The French authorities have conducted raids on the Paris offices of Lafarge-Holcim as part of the ongoing investigation into payments alleged to have been made in breach of the EU’s terrorist sanctions.
Lafarge-Holcim has confirmed it is cooperating with the investigation.
Belgium – raids on premises of holding company of Lafarge-Holcim
Netherlands – fine of €100,000 imposed on payment services provider
In 2015 the Dutch National Bank had imposed a financial penalty of €125,000 on an unnamed payment services provider for failings in relation to sanctions and PEP screening as part of a review by the bank.
The payment services provider appealed the decision.
On appeal to the District Court of Rotterdam the penalty was upheld but the fine reduced to €100,000.
The National Bank had originally calculated the fine as €550,000 which was then reduced due to the financial condition and size of the defendant.