Ireland – European Sanctions Enforcement

November 21, 2025November 21, 2025 by Mark Handley

Ireland – multiple cash seizures related to sanctions circumvention network

It is being reported that the Gardaí have conducted multiple cash seizures targetting a criminal network used for laundering money and sanctions circumvention.

The seizures value €1.36m and took place in multiple operations in Dublin and Leitrim in April and October this year.

It is alleged that the network “cleaned” the proceeds from ilegal activity and turned it into crypto currency. It is also alleged that the network provided sanctions circumvention services to the Russian state.

The Irish seizures were part of the broader Operation Destabilise which involved the UK’s National Crime Agency (see our post).

February 17, 2025February 17, 2025 by Mark Handley

Ireland – charges of Russian sanctions breaches not pursued following Gardaí investigations

Ireland’s Gardaí (National Police) have confirmed to Global Investigations Review that it has referred two investigations for prosecution for alleged breaches of the EU’s sanctions imposed on Russian in the wake of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

It was also confirmed that the Public Prosecution Service declined to being charges in both investigations.

One such referral to the DPP was reported to have taken place in April 2023.

In March 2024 it was reported that the Gardaí had four investigations ongoing into suspected Russian sanctions breaches, but the status of those further investigations is unknown.

May 8, 2024 by Mark Handley

Ireland – vessel registered with Russian Maritime Register of Shipping barred from entry

It is being reported that the Irish authorities have barred the vessel, the Sarah M, from loading a cargo of livestock after the authorities became aware that the vessel was registered with the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Under article 3ea of Regulation 833/2014, any vessel certified via the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping was, after 8 April 2023, barred from entry to EU ports.

April 22, 2024 by Mark Handley

European Sanctions Enforcement – milestone of over 2000 announced and active investigations reached

With the recent news that Finland has increased the number of its ongoing investigations, Europe (meaning the EU, the UK, Switzerland, etc) has reached the milestone of over 2,000 ongoing and public sanctions enforcement investigations being undertaken by regulators and prosecutors.

No doubt there are other investigations which are ongoing in the countries shown on the graph, and no doubt there are investigations ongoing in countries not shown and which remain confidential.

How many of these will be dropped due to inconclusive evidence or exculpatory evidence, and how many will lead to a conviction or fine or acquittal is impossible to say.

It is, without question, an unprecedented level of enforcement.

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 15, 2024March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

European sanctions enforcement: the last two months

This blog has been live now for just over two months.

During that time and by way of recap, a number of states have provided updated enforcement statistics in that period (Finland, Switzerland, Latvia), but the period has also seen a significant volume of new enforcement activity:

Continue reading “European sanctions enforcement: the last two months”

March 13, 2024 by Mark Handley

Ireland – four Gardaí investigations into Russian sanctions breaches

It has been reported in Ireland that four suspected breaches of Russian sanctions have been reported to the Gardaí for investigation.

No further details on the investigations or the alleged conduct were reported.

See our earlier post for a case for criminal prosecution being referred by the Gardaí to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

July 19, 2023February 26, 2024 by Mark Handley

Ireland – investigation into drone parts and possible trade sanctions breach

It has been reported today that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is investigating potential breaches of sanctions, after a “Made in Ireland” tag was found on components within drones used by Russia in Ukraine.

April 8, 2023February 17, 2025 by Mark Handley

Ireland – case referred for criminal prosecution for breach of Russian sanctions

It has been reported today that the Gardaí have referred a case for criminal prosecution to the Director of Public Prosecutions for alleged breaches of the EU’s Russian sanctions.

No further details on the case were reported.