Germany – European Sanctions Enforcement

January 19, 2026January 19, 2026 by Mark Handley

Germany – maritime authorities turn away shadow fleet vessel

Last week the German authorities ordered the vessel Tavian not to enter German territorial waters after inspection of the ship’s papers resulted in a finding that the vessel was sailing under a false flag and with a fake IMO number, and a suspicion that the tanker was being used to ship Russian oil.

The vessel complied with the order and turned around before returning to the North Sea and turning off its transponder.

Other reports include a comment from the Bundespolizei that they could not comment on an “ongoing operational procedure”.

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026 by Mark Handley

Germany – €10 million payment to settle sanctions investigation into Usmanov

Prosecutors in Germany have settled their investigation and prosecution of Alisher Usmanov for suspected breaches of EU sanctions.

The settlement involves a payment of €10 million but no admission of liability.

The investigation related to allegations of payments made by or on behalf Usmanov, a designated person, in relation the provision of security for two properties in Germany.

December 16, 2025December 16, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – report that there are 6,000 criminal proceedings for Russian and Belarus sanctions breaches ongoing

It is being reported in an article published in trans.info that the German authorities currently have approximately 6000 criminal proceedings for sanctions offences that are ongoing.

This number is said to be specific to the EU’s Russian and Belarusian sanctions regimes.

No further information is provided on the status of the cases.

December 3, 2025December 3, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – investigation into businesses alleged to have exported €10m in luxury cars to Russia

It is being reported that the Munich Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a number of businesses suspected of exporting 50 luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The cars are said to be valued at €10 million, including one car fitted with armour valued at €650,000.

The report alleges that the exports were done via third countries including Kazakhstan.

December 2, 2025December 2, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – raids and arrests as part of investigation into exports of equipment to Russia

German Customs has issued a press release relating to an ongoing investigation against five defendants. On 29 November three properties were raids in Oelde, and two individuals were arrested.

The investigation by the Essen Customs office, relates to the export since January 2023 of technical equipment and accessories, such as pumps, valves, filters to a company in Russia.

It is suspected that 53 shipments may have taken place via third countries.

The investigation has also frozen assets valued at €689,000.

November 21, 2025November 25, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – raids in relation to export of hundreds of luxury cars to Russia

It is being reported that seven residential and commercial premises in the Steinfurt area were raided on 20 November by Customs officers from Essen, Münster and Osnabrück.

The raids relate to allegations that three individuals (aged 57, 32 and 27) were involved in the export of 346 luxury cars to Russia via third countries in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

The exports are said to have taken place between 2022 and 2024 and have totalled approximately €20m in value.

The report adds that assets (including real estate, cars and bank accounts) valued at €20m have been seized as part of the investigation.

November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – arrest and raids related to machinery exports to Russia

German Customs has issued a press release reporting that the Customs Investigation Office and Public Prosecutor’s Office in Stuttgart have overseen raids on private and company premises relating to alleged machinery exports to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions.

Raids and searches were conducted on 10, 14 and 18 November and a 55-year old man has been arrested.

It is alleged that 5 machine tools were exported to Russia via third countries between October 2023 and December 2024. The value of the machinery is stated to have been €1.7m.

As well as raiding the exporting company, raids were also conducted on the premises of a freight forwarding company in Duisburg.

November 19, 2025 by Mark Handley

Germany – sanctions trial begins of individuals suspected of exporting €28m in luxury cars

The trial has commenced in Berlin of Evgeniya P., Wladimir K. and Ekaterina M. Only Evgeniya P. is before the court, the others are being tried in absentia.

The three are alleged to have exported 257 luxury cars to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions with a value of €28.2m.

The exports are reported to have been completed via Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan or Turkey.

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

Germany – 16 years of jail and €30m confiscated for nearly 500 luxury car exports to Russia

This story is actually from September 2024, and was previously missed by this blog.

Three individuals were convicted of 430 separate violations of the German Foreign Trade Act by way of exports of nearly 500 luxury cars to Russia in breach of sanctions.

The individuals falsely declared the exports were for Belarus.

Two of the individuals were each sentenced to 6 years in jail, and the third to 4 years.

In addition €30m in the gross proceeds of the sales were confiscated.