European Sanctions Enforcement

December 19, 2018March 6, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – arrest of Russian national for alleged export of military goods to Russia

The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release regarding the arrest of an individual (Vladimir D.) on suspicion of exporting dual-use goods to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

The goods are valued at €1.7 million and were said to have been exported in two consignments in 2014 and 2018.

As stated in the press release: “In order to circumvent the export controls, the accused is said to have carried out his transactions via changing fictitious recipients, presented false documents and carried out technical manipulations on the goods”.

December 19, 2018February 22, 2024 by Mark Handley

Luxembourg – regulator fines bank for sanctions failings

The Luxembourg financial services regulator, the CSSF, has today imposed a a fine of €55,000 on ANF Luxembourg SA for AML and sanctions compliance failings.

The penalty notice noted failings in compliance in relation to UN sanctions, but does not specify which regime was implicated.

December 18, 2018January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – appeal against Liberian sanctions conviction dismissed

The Dutch Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal against the 19-year sentence for (amongst other crimes) breach of the EU’s Liberian sanctions.

The appeal was largely on the grounds that the Liberian government had granted an amnesty which was said to apply. The Supreme Court disagreed, and in any event held that such an amnesty is incompatible with Dutch obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights.

November 30, 2018January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – fine for airline increased to €60,000 on appeal

Further to our earlier post relating to a fine imposed on the Dutch airline KLM, after an appeal by the Dutch prosecutors the fine has been raised to €60,000 from 40,000 with half suspended for 2 years.

November 29, 2018January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation into alleged export of turbines to Crimea

The Hamburg Public Prosecutor has confirmed that it is currently investigating three Russian-based employees of Siemens in relation to alleged export of turbines to Crimea in breach of EU sanctions.

Siemens has confirmed that it is cooperating with the investigation, and stated that it exported the turbines for use in Russia and not in Crimea, and that the turbines were re-exported to Crimea without its knowledge.

November 27, 2018March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – company pleads guilty and is fined £7,039

It has been reported today that the British company, VWR International Limited, has pleaded guilty to four counts of exporting dual-use chemicals and metals to Pakistan, Jordan and South Africa.

The exports were undertaken either without a licence or despite being denied an export licence.

The company was fined £7,039.

November 22, 2018July 24, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – three convicted of exporting military goods to Iran

Following a trial at Southwark Crown Court three individuals have been convicted of exporting parts for military aircraft to Iran in breach of sanctions.

Alexander George was given a custodial sentence of 2 and a half years, while Paul Attwater and Iris Attwater were sentenced to suspended sixth months in prison.

The shipments were sent in the name of a BVI company, via, Netherlands, Malaysia and Dubai, but were destined for Iran.

September 21, 2018January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – company convicted of breach of Russian sanctions

The District Court of Amsterdam has convicted a company on multiple charges of exporting military goods for a Russian end user. The intended Russian recipient of the exports was named as JSC Global Security, but the name of the convicted Dutch company was anonymised.

The goods (mostly bullet proof vests and other military equipment) were stopped at Schiphol airport and had been brought from South Africa.

The company was fined €30,000 (half suspended for 2 years).

July 12, 2018January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation opened into suspected illegal chemical exports

The prosecutor’s office in Oldenburg has opened an investigation into VET Pharma Friesoythe GmbH for suspected illegal exports of a controlled chemical to Japan and United States.

The chemical is used to put down dogs, but can also be used for lethal injections. A such it is tightly regulated.

The exports are alleged to have taken place in 2017 and 2018 and to not have been properly licenced.

July 7, 2018January 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – Hamburg Prosecutor investigates possible exports to Crimea

It has been reported that the Hamburg Prosecutor has commenced investigations into exports of titanium by Hansa Heavy Lift GmbH and Heinz Corleis KG.

The shipments are alleged to have been made to Crimea in breach of EU sanctions, although the original destination for the shipments was the port of Kavkaz in the Kerch Strait.