Export Controls – Page 2 – European Sanctions Enforcement

April 22, 2024April 22, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – charges laid in relation to exports to China

The German Federal Prosecutor’s office issued a press release earlier today in relation to the charging of three individuals for alleged export control violations.

The three charged are German nationals named as Herwig F., Ina F. and Thomas R.

It is alleged that the three were working for or on behalf of a Chinese intelligence agency and that they worked to procure information in relation to technology with military application, including ship engines.

The defendants are also charged with the unlicensed export of a laser to china in breach of the EU’s Dual-Use Regulation.

April 4, 2024 by Mark Handley

Ireland – investigation launched into alleged breaches of EU and UN Libyan sanctions

The Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has launched an investigation into alleged breaches of both UN and EU sanctions against Libya first reported in the Irish Times.

It is alleged that former members of the Irish Defence Forces provided military training and material to forces of Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army in breach of relevant arms embargoes.

It is alleged that the initial contract was entered into by an Irish company co-owned by Danny Cluskey, Darren Kelly and Nigel McCormack, and that the contract was then switched to a Dubai-based company (SOF Training).

March 7, 2024 by Mark Handley

Finland – conviction (and acquittals) for exports to Russia

It has been reported today that French national Gabriel Temin has been convicted in Finland for exporting military goods to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

He was given a suspended 9-month sentence and fined €11,000.

He was acquitted on a number of other more serious charges, and other defendants were acquitted as well. The prosecution had alleged that nearly 3,000 drones had been exported to Russia, but the court found there was insufficient evidence for this. The sale was to a customer in Kazakhstan and there was only circumstantial evidence that the goods had been retained in transit within Russia.

February 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Finland – 700 Russian trade sanctions investigations of which 70 are large and complex

In September 2023, the Finnish Customs authorities announced they had 600 ongoing criminal investigations of which 60 were “aggravated”.

As reported in Wirtschaft Woche Sari Knaapi , the Chief Economic Crimes Investigator at Finnish Customs has now given details of the current figures, stating that there are now 700 ongoing investigations, with around 70 that are described as “large, complex cases”.

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.

December 5, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Netherlands – arrests and raids regarding Russian sanctions

It has been reported today that the Dutch authorities, after a tip-off from unnamed US “agencies” have conducted searches at homes and business addresses in Sluis and Rotterdam.

Related search and arrests took place in the Belgium (see our related post) at the same time, and in total across both countries six have been arrested.

The allegations relate to the export of products and technology to Russia.

December 5, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Belgium – raids and arrests for Russian sanctions

It has been reported today that the Belgian authorities, after a tip-off from unnamed US “agencies” have conducted searches at homes and business addresses in Knokke-Heist and Eeklo.

The Belgian government announcement is here.

Related search and arrests took place in the Netherlands (see our related post) at the same time, and in total across both countries six have been arrested, four of whom were arrested in Belgium

The allegations relate to the export of products and technology to Russia.

December 5, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Finland – charges coming for 6 for Russian sanctions breaches

It has been reported today that Finnish Customs are preparing to charge six with Russian sanctions offences.

The activities relate to two Finnish companies suspected of exporting microcontrollers and semi-conductors valued at more than €600,000 to Russia, as well as nearly 3,500 drones value at over €2 million.

The investigation is said to have also involved the authorities from the Netherlands, the UK, the US, as well as Europol and Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service.

December 1, 2023March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – HMRC imposes three compound penalties for exports

The UK’s HMRC has today announced three new compound penalties imposed on experts for unlawful exports.

The first penalty was £67,000.31 imposed for the attempted export of goods in breach of the UK’s Russian sanctions. The person or company involved was not named.

The second penalty was for £1,000 and the attempted unlicensed export of dual-use goods. Again the penalised company was not named.

The third penalty was for £9,088.99 for exporting dual-use goods without a licence. This too was anonymised.

November 13, 2023March 6, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – charges for exporting military and dual use goods to Russia

Further to our earlier post, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release confirming charges against Ulli S for exports to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

Continue reading “Germany – charges for exporting military and dual use goods to Russia”