UK – National Crime Agency claims 100 “disruptions”

The National Crime Agency has today claimed to have undertaken 100 “disruptions” since the uptick in Russian sanctions following the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The NCA stated:

“To date, the NCA has secured nearly 100 disruptions – actions that demonstrably remove or reduce a criminal threat – against Putin-linked elites and their enablers.

These include a number of Account Freezing Orders (AFOs) over accounts held by individuals who are closely linked to sanctioned Russians. The Cell has also investigated and taken discreet action against a significant number of elites who impact directly on the UK, as well as targeting less conventional routes used to disguise movements of significant wealth, such as high value asset sales via auction houses.

Internationally, the NCA’s work has assisted in the freezing of numerous properties, eight yachts and four aircraft, and it continues to work in concert with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation  to ensure that other assets in the UK are frozen, as well as with global partners to target illicit wealth held abroad”.

Romania – fine and confiscation overturned

The Romanian company Liberty Galati has successfully overturned an administrative fine and the confiscation of over 7.6 million lei (c. €1.5m).

The alleged breach of EU sanctions related to a shipment of iron ore pellets which left Russian on 22 February 2022, and arrived in Romania on 25 February 2022.  The seller of the pellets was Metalloinvest, which is owned or controlled by Alisher Usmanov who was designated on 28 February 2022. The pellets were on-sold in Romania on 1 March 2022.

The initial fine and confiscation was based on the allegation that it was a breach of the EU’s sanctions to deal with Metalloinvest in this way. The court disagreed and held that Liberty Galati had taken title to the pellets on 22 February at a time that Metalloinvest was not subject to sanctions.

UK’s OFSI imposes EU Russian sanctions civil penalty

OFSI today announced that it had imposed a civil penalty for breach of the UK’s Russian sanctions.

The penalty notice is available here.

The fine was imposed on Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits  Competition Limited (HKIWS), and was just £30,000.

The conduct in question was the receipt of funds and goods from a designated person. The goods in question were wine bottles. HKIWS was also found to have made “economic resources” available to a designated person.  This was in the form of publicity, and illustrates OFSI’s wide view of what amounts to the making available of an economic resource.

UK – investigation into possible sanctions offences by Petr Aven

It has been reported today that the UK’s National Crime Agency is investigating  possible sanctions breaches by six companies and individuals associated with Petr Aven who is a designated person under the UK’s sanctions.

The authorities have obtained Account Freezing Orders over two accounts allegedly holding £1.5 million and these orders are being challenged by Mr Aven.

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