Military Goods – Page 3 – European Sanctions Enforcement

April 6, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Malta – company and director acquitted of breach of Russian sanctions

It has been reported today that a prosecution in Malta for allegedly breaching the EU’s sanctions against Russia has ended in acquittal.

The investigation commenced in 2019 after a bank submitted a suspicious activity report.

The transaction at the heart of the case was the export of 142 pallets of ammunition from Russia to Morocco via a Maltese company; Donna Shipping Company Limited.

The company and one of its directors, Karl David Mallia, a qualified accountant were both prosecuted, but not any of the other directors of the company.

The court held that there was insufficient evidence that Mallia had been involved in the particular transaction.

April 5, 2023January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Spain – two arrested for alleged military exports to Russia

It has been reported today that the Spanish authorities have arrested two individuals, a Russian national and a Ukrainian national, on suspicion of exporting military goods to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

The investigation was started in 2021 nad has involved a number of raids. The goods in question were exported through third countries but destined for the Russian aeronautical sector.

February 1, 2023March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – four exporters fined over £3.5m for unlawful exports

The UK’s HMRC has today announced the imposition of compound penalties on four UK exporters. Those companies were not named.

Little information is provided but the exports were all either dual-use goods or military goods.

The compound penalties which were imposed between November and December 2022, were:

- - £745,620
  - £994,074.74
  - £1,000
  - £1,883,442.

December 9, 2022March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – twelve compound penalties announced for unlicensed exports

The UK’s HMRC has today announced penalties imposed on twelve exporters. The exporters are not named and the details of the offending are limited but the exports all related to either dual-use or military goods.

The penalties imposed were:

- - £105,895.05
  - £271,700.25
  - £2,700
  - £1,000
  - £19,637.84
  - £6935.44
  - £9,828.83
  - £19,689.20
  - £56,708.71
  - £2,700
  - £8,664.81
  - £5,300

October 10, 2022March 19, 2024 by Mark Handley

Latvia – confiscation of $4m as part of investigation of UN sanctions breaches

Further to our earlier post, the Latvian VDD is investigating arms sales to an unnamed African country allegedly in breach of UN sanctions.

As part of that investigation the VDD has today announced the confiscation of $4m uncovered in an offshore account.

August 30, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – raids investigating alleged chemical exports to Russia

It has been reported today that the German authorities have conducted raids across Germany as part of investigations into alleged exports of chemicals to Russia in breach of EU sanctions.

The raids included the premises of the companies Riol Chemie GmbH and R.R. Rhein Reserve GmbH.

It is alleged that more than 30 separate exports have taken place in the last three or so years, and that the chemicals could be used to make chemical weapons including Novichok.

June 8, 2022March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK – convicted exporter to Iran ordered to pay £700,000

HMRC has announced that British national Alexander George has been ordered to pay £700,000 in a confiscation order issued by the Southwark Crown Court. The funds are the proceeds of crime related to his conviction for exporting parts for jet fighters to Iran.

For more on his conviction back in 2018 see our earlier post.

March 30, 2022January 11, 2024 by Mark Handley

Austria – 4 convictions for exporting military goods

Included in the annual criminal prosecution statistics for Austria in 2020 is the figure that the authorities there have secured 4 convictions for breaches of section 7 the Austrian “War Materials Law”, and 9 convictions over all.

No detail is published on the nature of the offending, the identity of the offenders, or the sentences imposed.

January 10, 2022March 15, 2024 by Mark Handley

UK’s HMRC imposes 10 fines for export control violations

The UK’s HM Revenue and Customs has today announced the imposition of 10 compound penalties in relation to failures to comply with the UK’s export control regulations for dual-use and military goods. The fines were imposed between March and November 2021.

HMRC’s Notice to Exporters can be found here.

In line with HMRC’s standard practice the compound penalties are anonymised and of low value, with little information made available. The information provided is supplied below.

Continue reading “UK’s HMRC imposes 10 fines for export control violations”

July 13, 2021March 7, 2024 by Mark Handley

Germany – €11 million confiscation for unlicensed exports upheld on appeal

The German Federal Court of Justice has upheld the confiscation of €11 million imposed on Sig Sauer for unlicensed exports of small arms to Colombia.

See our earlier post, for the original fine from 2019.

The exports were made as part fulfilment of a contract by the US government to supply weapons to the Colombian police, but the necessary export licences were not obtained from the German authorities.

The judgment is available here.