Denmark – European Sanctions Enforcement

December 9, 2024December 10, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – sanctions enforcement activity 2022-2024

Presenting a webinar this morning made me aware that this blog had missed a number of stories relating to Danish sanctions enforcement.

I have endeavoured to rectify that gap with a number of posts filling gaps from 2022 through to early 2024. Because I have back-dated the posts so that they appear in the correct sequence it made sense to collect them into a properly new post to highlight the additions.

Importantly, between February 2022 and August 2023 a total of 98 investigations were opened, with 16 referred to the police. In addition the police have charged a company and two individuals in relation to one particular case.

conclusion of a Danish FSA investigation into a payment services provider in January 2024: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/01/19/denmark-danish-fsa-concludes-investigation-into-payment-services-provider/
a company and two individuals charged with sanctions offences relating to alleged arms exports to Russia in January 2024: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2024/01/12/denmark-three-charged-in-relation-to-alleged-arms-exports-to-russia/
45 investigations opened between January and August 2023, of which 23 remained open and 2 had been referred to the Police: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2023/08/16/denmark-45-sanctions-investigations-opened-so-far-in-2023/
two Russian designated persons referred to the Police by the Danish Business Authority in January 2023: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2023/01/25/denmark-two-further-sanctions-investigations-referred-to-the-police/
12 criminal cases opened by the police and 34 investigations commenced by the Danish Business Authority between February 2022 and October 2022: https://blogs.duanemorris.com/europeansanctionsenforcement/2022/10/26/denmark-12-criminal-investigations-for-sanctions-breaches-opened/

May 31, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – investigation closes into alleged import of fuel from partly Russian-owned refinery in India

Further to our earlier post regarding an investigation by the Danish Business Authority into allegations that the Danish shipping company Hafnia, was importing refined fuels from a refinery in India that may have been owned or controlled by Rosneft (which is a designated person under the EU’s sanctions), it is now being reported (here – behind a paywall), that the Danish Business Authority has concluded its investigation having determined that it could not establish that there had been a breach of Russian sanctions.

As yet the Danish Business Authority has not issued a statement on its website.

March 15, 2024March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

European sanctions enforcement: the last two months

This blog has been live now for just over two months.

During that time and by way of recap, a number of states have provided updated enforcement statistics in that period (Finland, Switzerland, Latvia), but the period has also seen a significant volume of new enforcement activity:

Continue reading “European sanctions enforcement: the last two months”

March 4, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – investigation into importation of aviation fuel from India in potential breach of Russian sanctions

It has been reported that the Danish Business Authority is currently investigating the Danish shipping company Hafnia for possible breaches of the EU’s Russian sanctions.

The allegations relate to the importation in October of 30 million litres of aviation fuel from a refinery in India which may be owned or controlled by designated persons.

Hafnia is reported to have denied the allegations and stated that it acts in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

January 19, 2024December 9, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – Danish FSA concludes investigation into payment services provider

The Danish FSA has issued a press release stating that an investigation it commenced into Nets Danmark A/S, has not resulted in a need for any further regulatory action to be taken.

The investigation was commenced in May 2023 and related to compliance with EU sanctions in general and Russian and Belarusian sanctions in particular.

January 12, 2024December 9, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – three charged in relation to alleged arms exports to Russia

It is being reported that the NSK – Denmark’s National Unit for Serious Crime is investigating allegations that a Danish arms manufacturer has been exporting arms to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The company, and the company’s CFO and CEO are all reported to have been charged on suspicion of exports to a Russian arms manufacturer.

The company successfully applied to the court for a ban on being named in the press.

The allegations include the setting up of a bespoke corporate structure to conduct the exports via third countries.

August 16, 2023December 9, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – 45 sanctions investigations opened so far in 2023

It is being reported that so far during 2023 a total of 45 investigations have been opened by the Danish Business Authority in relation to alleged breaches of the EU’s sanctions against Russia.

Of these:

15 cases have been concluded with no further action taken;
2 cases have been referred to the Police;
23 investigations remain open; and
in 5 cases the Danish Business Authority determined that the case did not fall “within the authority’s competence”.

No further details on the cases have been published.

February 28, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – investigation confirmed into possible exports to Russia

It has been reported today that the Danish authorities are investigating into possible breaches of the EU’s sanctions against Russia by the insulation maker Rockwool.

The investigation was instigated after media reporting of the use of Rockwool products in Russia between 2015 and 2020.

January 25, 2023December 9, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – two further sanctions investigations referred to the police

It is being reported that the Danish Business Authority has referred two cases to the police for potential further action.

This is further to our earlier post relating to the commencement of the investigations.

Both cases relate to the continuation of operations by designated Russian organisations in Denmark.

These two police investigations add the the 12 already known to have been commenced (see our earlier post).

January 18, 2023December 9, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – Danish Business Authority investigating possible breaches by two Russian designated persons

It is being reported that the Danish Business Authority is investigating whether the so-called “Russia House” in Copenhagen, which is a designated person under the EU’s sanctions has been breaching the asset freeze imposed upon it.

This follows an earlier report that the Danish Business Authority was also investigating possible breaches by Rossotrudnichestvo.