UK – extradition to the US for person suspected of Iran sanctions breaches

A press release from the  US Department of Justice records that an individual, Saeid Haji Agha Mousaei, was arrested in the UK on 24 January 2023 pursuant to an Interpol diffusion notice.

Mr Mousaei was then subsequently extradited to the US where he faces multiple charges arising from the alleged supply of “controlled electronics with military applications, including signals equipment like oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers, for export and re-export to Iran”.

It is alleged that false documentation was prepared which indicated that the goods were to remain in countries such as the UAE and Armenia, but the goods were all transshipped to Iran via the UAE.

Germany – two individuals convicted of electronics exports to Russia

A court in Stuttgart has convicted two individuals for their role in the export of 120,000 dual-use items to Russia between January 2020 and May 2023. The parts included those used for the “Orlan 10” drone. The value of the goods was estimated at €875,000. Another report states that this amount was confiscated as part of the sentencing.

One individual was given a custodial sentence of 6 years and 9 months and the other was given a suspended sentence of 1 year and 9 months.

The scheme had involved disguised sales and invoices involving Hong Kong and Turkey, as well as false documents indicating that some of the goods had been sold to customers in Germany.

As per our earlier post, the individuals were charged had been charged in March 2024.

 

Italy – seizure of Russian-origin military cargo bound for Libya

It is being reported that the Italian authorities, upon receipt of information from the US authorities, have conducted an operation in the Mediterranean to seize millions of dollars in unspecified military equipment on board the MSC Arina.

The goods are suspected of being exported to Libya in breach of the arms embargo that forms part of the UN sanctions.

The vessel had departed Shenzen, China in April and was allowed to continue after the cargo in question was removed.

It is being reported that the equipment was destined for General Khalifa’s forces in eastern Libya.

 

Germany – trial starts of three individuals accused of drone exports to Russia

Further to our earlier post about the laying of charges against three individuals accused of exporting drones and drone parts to Russia in breach of the EU’s sanctions, the criminal trial of these individuals started on Friday.

The three are, between them, accused of 54 counts of breaching sanctions.

The conduct is alleged to have included exports to front companies in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, and of deceiving component suppliers based in the US by saying that Germany was to be the final destination of the products.

United Kingdom – HMRC issues £2.3m in compound penalties for sanctions and export controls breaches

His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the body empowered to enforce export controls and trade sanctions in the UK, has today published two Notices to Exporters setting out compound penalties  in relation to Russian sanctions and export control violations.

The first Notice, in relation to an unnamed company,  relates to a penalty of £1,058,781.79 imposed for breaches of the UK’s Russian sanctions regulation.

No information is given as to the nature of the conduct, the value of the goods, or why a criminal prosecution was not brought. There is no mention of a confiscation of the proceeds of crime.

The second Notice relates to export control violations that are not described as breaches of the UK’s sanction. Again no information is given as to the names of the companies, the nature of the violations, or an indication given as to the confiscation of the proceeds of crime.

To quote the Notice:

The 6 settlements made by UK companies were:

    • January 2024 – £12,700.00 was paid for a breach of licence conditions in relation to the export of military goods
    • February 2024 – £33,822.64 was paid relating to the unlicensed exports of military goods controlled by The Export Control Order 2008
    • February 2024 – £971,726.00 was paid relating to the unlicensed exports of military goods controlled by The Export Control Order 2008
    • February 2024 – £139,841.85 was paid relating to the unlicensed exports of military goods controlled by The Export Control Order 2008 and dual use goods controlled by Retained Regulation 428/2009
    • March 2024 – £92,817.40 was paid relating to the unlicensed exports of military goods controlled by The Export Control Order 2008
    • March 2024 – £56,915.27 was paid relating to the unlicensed exports of military goods controlled by The Export Control Order 2008“.

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.

 

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).

 

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.

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The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

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