Export Controls – Page 7 – European Sanctions Enforcement

March 4, 2021January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – convictions and fines for Russian exports

Further to our earlier post, it has been reported today that the Higher Regional Court in Hamburg has sentenced two men to prison for supplying machine tools to a Russian arms company.

The first defendant received a sentence of three years and nine months. In addition, almost €8 million in profits from the sale of the machinery will be confiscated

The second defendant was sentenced to two years’ probation for aiding and abetting with a payment of €150,000 to secure that probation. A further €184,000 are to be confiscated.

November 24, 2020March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK: HMRC fines 19 companies for export controls violations

Today the UK government announced compound penalties of £700,386.01 imposed for breaches of the UK’s export controls.

The announcement from the Export Control Joint Unit provides little detail, but there were 19 settlements in all with the individual penalties ranging from £1,000 to £211,250.

The exports were of dual-use goods and military goods.

This announcement is in line with the HMRC’s policy of entering into civil settlements using its compounding powers, and with anonymised publication of the details.

November 12, 2020January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Denmark – charges for breach of Syrian sanctions

Denmark’s financial crimes unit on Wednesday announced charges against a Danish company suspected of violating EU sanctions on Syria by delivering large quantities of fuel to Russian warplanes there.

The 33 transactions, involving 172,000 tonnes of kerosene, carried out between 2015 and 2017, amounted to 647 million kroner (87 million euros, $102 million), according to the Danish State Prosecutor.

Danish media has reported the company as Dan-Bunkering. A holding company and the director of one of the companies involved are also being prosecuted.

October 20, 2020March 6, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – charges for dual-use exports to Russia

Further to our earlier post, the German Federal Prosecutor’s Office has issued a press release confirming that charges have now been laid against two individuals – Alexander S. and Alexander O.

The allegations relate to the export of machine tool to a Russian state-owned arms company valued at €8 million between January 2016 and January 2018.

The customer is also said to be a designated person under EU regulation 269/2014.

February 13, 2020January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany arrests man for Russian sanctions violation

It has been reported today that customs officials in the Bavarian city of Augsburg have today arrested Alexander S. on suspicion of exporting machinery to Russia in breach of the EU’s trade sanctions.

Premises have been raided in Bavaria, Saxony and Berlin.

The exports are alleged to have valued over €8m and to have taken place between 2016 and 2018 to military end users.

The allegations include the provision of false information to try and optain export permits.

January 11, 2020January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

German prosecution for sale of dual-use goods to Russia

On Friday the trial in Germany starts of Vladimir D. who is accused of eight counts of exporting dual use goods (both chemicals and equipment) to Russia and allegedly for a military end user in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The exports are alleged to have taken place between 2014 and 2018.

The man was arrested in late 2018 and raids conducted in Baden-Württemberg. The value of the exports is reported to be €1.83 million.

January 9, 2020January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – seven year sentence for Russian exports

The Higher Regional Court of Hamburg has today sentenced a man to seven years in jail for exports to Russian in breach of EU sanctions.

Our earlier post had outlined that the man was charged with exports of chemicals and machinery to Russia which could be used in the manufacture of military rockets. False documentation had been created in an attempt to mask the exports.

December 30, 2019January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Austria – military goods enforcement

The Austrian annual criminal statistics reveal 4 convictions for the year 2018 for breaches of section 7 the “War Materials Law”. Two other convictions for other offences were obtained in the year.

No information was published on the nature of the offending, the identity of the offenders or the sentences.

November 15, 2019March 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – raids and arrests for arms sales in breach of UN sanctions

The Latvian Intelligence Services have announced a series of five raids in Riga and elsewhere relating to “illegal arms trade, violation of sanctions determined by international organisations” and money laundering.

As stated: “The information acquired during the investigation indicates that the group of persons has illicitly supplied a large number of arms to African countries that are subject to the sanctions determined by the UN and the EU. The accomplishment of illicit contracts was followed by laundering of criminally acquired financial resources”.

The release does not specify the African country.

November 12, 2019March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – 9 companies issued compound penalties for unlicensed exports

The UK’s HMRC has today announced that it has imposed compound penalties on nine separate exporters for the unlicensed exports of dual use goods, military goods and related activity controlled by Export Control Order.

The fines were between £5,000 and £90,000 in value.