Export Controls – European Sanctions Enforcement

February 6, 2026February 27, 2026 by Mark Handley

United Kingdom – company director convicted and sentenced for exports of military-grade rifle sights to Hong Kong

The UK’s HMRC has issued a press release announcing the conviction and sentencing of Steven Gates for unlicensed exports of eight military-grade rifle sights to a buyer in Hong Kong.

Customs declarations were also falsified to say the sights were camera equipment.

One export was prevented in February 2022 by Border Force staff at Manchester Airport, and another in April 2023.

Searches at his house revealed evidence of another 10 exports.

Mr Gates has been sentenced to jail for 2 years and one month.

Importantly, the press release notes that HMRC is “pursuing 51 criminal investigations in 2024/2025 compared with give in 2021/22”.

December 1, 2025 by Mark Handley

UK – compound penalty of £620,515 for unlicensed military exports

The UK’s HMRC has published a Notice to Exporters reporting on a compound penalty agreed with an unnamed UK exporter.

The penalty was £620,515.04. The conduct giving rise to the penalty is described as “unlicensed exports of military goods controlled by the Export Control Order 2008”.

No other information is provided.

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 – conviction and lengthy jail term for sanctioned exports to Russia

Further to our earlier post, it is being reported (here, here and here) that in September a court in Frankfurt convicted Alexander S. of exports of sanctioned goods to Russia.

He is reported to have been sentenced to 4 years and 11 months in jail. Both the defence and prosecution have appealed.

The conviction relates to exports of dual use maritime technology to Russia via a procurement network said to be run through the Cypriot company Mostrello.

November 3, 2025November 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Norway – investigation into alleged military technology exports to Russia

After press reporting on possible breaches of Norway’s Russian sanctions by companies in the Kongsberg Group, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that as of 25 October, it had started an investigation:

“PST has today decided to initiate an investigation of Kongsberg Discovery for violation of export control regulations. The reason for our decision is that through media coverage in recent days, information has emerged that gives PST reason to carry out further investigations“.

Kongsberg is a state-owned arms manufacturer and is reported to have stated to the press that it has followed Norway’s regulations.

The allegations are that equipment used for undersea surveillance have been sold and shipped to Russian military customers.

September 30, 2025September 30, 2025 by Mark Handley

Spain – updates on investigation into alleged exports of prohibited chemicals to Russia

Further to our earlier post from February 2025, regarding the Spanish authorities seizure of 13,000 tons of prohibited chemicals from being exported to Russia, it is now being reported by the OCCRP that the chemical in question was N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone used in a range of manufacturing.

While it is reported that the Audiencia Nacional has confirmed that as yet no one has been charged, it has been confirmed that nine individuals are currently under investigation as suspects including Maria Oleinikova and her son and daughter Vyacheslav and Irina and the German national Werner Scharlau.

Maria Oleinikova declined to comment on the story due to the ongoing proceedings.

September 24, 2025September 24, 2025 by Mark Handley

Switzerland – investigation into alleged spyware exports

As reported by GIR (behind a paywall) a decision by the Swiss Supreme Court has revealed an ongoing investigation by the Swiss Office of the Attorney General into alleged exports of spyware software to various countries in breach of Swiss export control laws.

The investigation relates to Andrea Gambazzi, and the company Thalestris Switzerland.

The judgment itself relates to whether documents seized as part of a raid by the authorities can, or cannot, be used as part of the investigation.

The investigation is reported to have been commenced in June 2024.

September 3, 2025September 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Spain – appeal court upholds pre-trial detention in Russian sanctions prosecution case

Press reporting has brought to light a Spanish judgment upholding the pre-trial detention of a Georgian national named only “Alexander” who is suspected of exporting a range of goods and machinery to Russia via Turkey.

The judgment is here.

It is alleged that the individual had company seals for a range of Spanish, Turkish and Russian companies and was able to prepare documentation that gave the appearance of legitimate exports to Turkey.

WhatsApp messages, however, are said to have revealed the end-customers in Russia.

It is unclear whether this judgment relates to another Spanish investigation related to the export of machinery through third countries (see our earlier post), or is a separate investigation.

September 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Estonia – extradition to US on charges of supplying US goods to Russia

The US Department of Justice has issued a press release confirming that the Estonian authorities have transferred Estonian national Andrey Shevlyakov to US custody for extradition to the US to face 18 counts of supplying US goods and technology to Russia in breach of US sanctions.

It is being reported that Mr Shevlyakov was first detained in March 2023 as part of a joint investigation between US and Estonian authorities.

August 13, 2025August 13, 2025 by Mark Handley

Bulgaria – raids on companies suspected of arms exports to Russia

It is being reported that the National Investigation Service of Bulgaria has conducted multiple raids in Sofia and elsewhere in relation to alleged arms sales to Russia.

The raids are being conducted after information shared by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau.

A press release from the Prosecutor’s Office refers to raids on business and residential properties, relating to multiple companies. The only company named as the subject of the raids in the press reporting is Sage Consultants AD.

The raids were also conducted with officers from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) and the General Directorate Gendarmerie, Special Operations and Counterterrorism.