Compliance Radar
Who was sanctioned, and for what?
Fines, court rulings and incidents from Europe and North America: 756 cases from 32 jurisdictions, each with an official source and checked against that source before publication. Filter by country, area of law and sector. Click a chart to drill down one level.
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Where?
by countryWhat for?
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When?
per quarter, by date of decision| Period | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2023 | 0 | — |
| Q4 2023 | 1 | €200,000 |
| Q1 2024 | 0 | — |
| Q2 2024 | 0 | — |
| Q3 2024 | 2 | €1.1m |
| Q4 2024 | 1 | — |
| Q1 2025 | 2 | — |
| Q2 2025 | 0 | — |
| Q3 2025 | 1 | €5m |
| Q4 2025 | 1 | — |
| Q1 2026 | 2 | €20.1m |
| Q2 2026 | 0 | — |
| Q3 2026 | 0 | — |
10 cases
2 Mar 2026 Autohandel aus dem Landkreis Miltenberg (Inhaber Andreas M.)Six years' imprisonment for car dealer: 111 luxury vehicles to Russia despite embargo €20m
A car dealer from the Bavarian Lower Main region specialising in armoured and luxury vehicles brought 111 vehicles worth almost 20 million EUR to Russia, and around 400 further vehicles were planned. The white-collar crime chamber of the Würzburg Regional Court (Landgericht Würzburg) sentenced the owner to six years' imprisonment and the former authorised signatory (Prokuristin) to two years suspended, and ordered the confiscation of around 20 million EUR; the judgment is not final.
Bans on luxury goods to Russia are enforced with long prison sentences and confiscation of assets; authorised signatories are also personally liable.
- Authority / court
- Landgericht Würzburg (Wirtschaftsstrafkammer); Ermittlungen Zollfahndungsamt Essen und Staatsanwaltschaft Würzburg
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes
- Legal basis
- Außenwirtschaftsgesetz i. V. m. Russland-Embargoverordnung (EU) Nr. 833/2014 (gewerbsmäßig)
- Action
- Custodial sentence
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Culpability
- intentional
- Liability of senior managers
- Owner (Andreas M.) six years' imprisonment; former authorised signatory (Inna W.) two years suspended.
- Published
- 2 Mar 2026
- Zollfahndungsamt Essen: Sechs Jahre Haft für Embargoverstoß mit Luxusautos (02.03.2026) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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31 Mar 2026 Anti-dumping duty evaded: suspended sentence and fine for import of hairdressing aluminium foil €100,000
A German import company declared aluminium foil for hairdressers made in China as goods originating in Myanmar in order to evade anti-dumping duties; a company set up specifically for this purpose in Myanmar carried out only minimal processing, which did not change the origin. Around 610,000 EUR was evaded, plus around 140,000 EUR from seven direct sales to unsuspecting German customers. Following charges brought by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Cologne, the Krefeld District Court sentenced the Chinese national responsible to one year and eight months suspended and a fine of 100,000 EUR; more than 321,000 EUR was confiscated, and the proceedings against a second accused were discontinued subject to a monetary condition.
Origin declarations for metal goods subject to anti-dumping duty must be robust – minimal processing in a third country does not change the origin.
Origin of goods and proof of origin for goods subject to anti-dumping duties
- Authority / court
- Gericht in Krefeld (Krefeld District Court); Anklage: Europäische Staatsanwaltschaft (EPPO) Köln; Ermittlungen Zollfahndungsamt Essen
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Customs
- Legal basis
- Hinterziehung von EU-Antidumpingzöllen (Einfuhrabgaben) auf Aluminiumfolie aus China; Ursprungsregeln des EU-Zollrechts
- Action
- Custodial sentence
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Steel and metals
- Culpability
- intentional
- Published
- 31 Mar 2026
- EPPO: Germany – Conviction in EPPO case on evasion of anti-dumping duties on aluminium foil imports (31.03.2026) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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19 Nov 2025 Former managing director in custody: machine tools to Russia via third countries Order
A 55-year-old former managing director from the Tübingen area is alleged to have supplied five machine tools worth around 1.7 million EUR to Russia via various third countries between October 2023 and December 2024. The Stuttgart Local Court (Amtsgericht Stuttgart) issued an arrest warrant and an asset freeze of around 1.5 million EUR; premises searched included a freight forwarder in Duisburg. The investigations by the Stuttgart public prosecutor's office and customs investigation office are ongoing (date = press release).
Machine tools are among the core targets of the Russia sanctions; freight forwarders also come into the focus of customs investigators in cases of diverted shipments.
Recognising circumvention via third countries (freight forwarding, sales)
- Authority / court
- Amtsgericht Stuttgart (Haftbefehl, Vermögensarrest); Staatsanwaltschaft Stuttgart; Zollfahndungsamt Stuttgart
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes
- Legal basis
- Außenwirtschaftsgesetz i. V. m. Verordnung (EU) Nr. 833/2014
- Action
- Order
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Manufacturing and mechanical engineering
- Liability of senior managers
- Former managing director in pre-trial detention.
- Published
- 19 Nov 2025
- Zollfahndungsamt Stuttgart: Zoll deckt unerlaubte Ausfuhren von Werkzeugmaschinen nach Russland auf (19.11.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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8 Jul 2025 Freies Autohaus aus Lohra (Inhaber nicht genannt)Five years' imprisonment for smuggling 71 luxury cars to Russia €5m
The person responsible for an independent car dealership sold 71 luxury vehicles with a value of goods of around 5 million EUR to Russia, feigning lawful exports to third countries. Following investigations by the Frankfurt am Main public prosecutor's office and the Essen customs investigation office, the Marburg Regional Court (Landgericht Marburg) imposed five years' imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of around 5 million EUR; the judgment is not final.
Feigned exports to third countries are exposed through customs data and payment flows – confiscation covers the entire value of the goods.
- Authority / court
- Landgericht Marburg; Ermittlungen Staatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt am Main und Zollfahndungsamt Essen
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes
- Legal basis
- Außenwirtschaftsgesetz i. V. m. Verordnung (EU) Nr. 833/2014 (Luxusgüterverbot)
- Action
- Custodial sentence
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Culpability
- intentional
- Liability of senior managers
- The person responsible for the car dealership was personally sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
- Published
- 11 Jul 2025
- Zollfahndungsamt Essen: Fünf Jahre Haft für Embargoverstöße mit Luxusautos (11.07.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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10 Feb 2025 EPPO freezes assets: Chinese stainless steel declared as Korean Order
In 110 imports via a customs agency in Ferrara, two companies are alleged to have declared stainless steel coils from China as being of South Korean origin, thereby evading almost 2.4 million EUR in additional duty under the 2019 EU anti-dumping regulation; 60 further imports by one of the companies using the same method involve around 950,000 EUR. At the request of the Bologna office of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), assets totalling more than 3.3 million EUR were frozen; searches took place in Ferrara, Varese, Milan and La Spezia.
False origin declarations for steel subject to anti-dumping duties are prosecuted across borders by the EU prosecutor – with asset freezes already at the investigation stage.
Origin declarations for steel imports and liability of management
- Authority / court
- Europäische Staatsanwaltschaft (EPPO), Büro Bologna
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Customs
- Legal basis
- EU-Antidumpingverordnung von 2019 (Edelstahlcoils aus China); Hinterziehung von Einfuhrzöllen
- Action
- Order
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Steel and metals
- Liability of senior managers
- Those responsible at the companies are alleged to have certified the South Korean origin.
- Published
- 10 Feb 2025
- EPPO: Italy – EPPO seizes €950 000 in probe into import of stainless steel coils (10.02.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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3 Feb 2025 Customs investigators: machinery manufacturer allegedly declared Indian steel as British Incident
From March 2021, a machinery manufacturer from the Rhein-Neckar district is alleged to have declared steel products worth more than 2.9 million EUR as being of British origin in more than 100 customs clearances, although the steel came from India and was only imported via the UK; correctly, 25% higher import duties would have been payable. In December 2024, the Stuttgart customs investigation office (Zollfahndungsamt Stuttgart), acting on behalf of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), searched business premises in Germany and at the British seller; the damage is estimated at several hundred thousand euros.
For steel, the actual origin determines the customs burden – check supplier declarations from intermediaries for plausibility.
Preferential and origin rules when buying steel via intermediaries
- Authority / court
- Zollfahndungsamt Stuttgart im Auftrag der Europäischen Staatsanwaltschaft (EPPO)
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Customs
- Legal basis
- Verdacht der Steuerhinterziehung (Einfuhrabgaben nach EU-Zollrecht, falsche Ursprungsangaben)
- Action
- Incident without known action
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Steel and metals
- Published
- 3 Feb 2025
- Zollfahndungsamt Stuttgart: Verdacht der Steuerhinterziehung bei der Einfuhr von Stahl (03.02.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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7 Nov 2024 Seven years' imprisonment: machine tools for sniper rifles to Russian arms manufacturer Custodial sentence
In 2015, despite the Russia embargo, the 56-year-old managing director of a Baden-Württemberg machine tool company and a Swiss holding company supplied six machine tools with accessories to a Russian arms manufacturer for the series production of sniper rifles, and concealed the recipient and intended use. The 2nd Criminal Division of the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht Stuttgart, Ref. 2 St 3 BJs 48/22) imposed an aggregate sentence of seven years' imprisonment; around 3 million EUR was confiscated from the holding company and 2.1 million EUR from the defendant (of which 674,000 EUR jointly and severally). Not final.
Embargo breaches with a defence connection are prosecuted as state security cases – even years later and with confiscation from foreign holding companies.
- Authority / court
- Oberlandesgericht Stuttgart, 2. Strafsenat (Az. 2 St 3 BJs 48/22)
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes
- Legal basis
- §§ 17, 18 Außenwirtschaftsgesetz i. V. m. Beschluss 2014/512/GASP und Verordnung (EU) Nr. 833/2014
- Action
- Custodial sentence
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Manufacturing and mechanical engineering
- Culpability
- intentional
- Liability of senior managers
- Managing director personally sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.
- Published
- 7 Nov 2024
- OLG Stuttgart, 2. Strafsenat: Angeklagter wegen vier Verstößen gegen das AWG i. V. m. dem Russland-Embargo zu 7 Jahren verurteilt (07.11.2024) Court press release
- Generalbundesanwalt: Anklage wegen mutmaßlicher Verstöße gegen das Außenwirtschaftsgesetz erhoben (13.11.2023) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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23 Sep 2024 Amsterdam company pays settlement: dividend paid out to oligarch's company €215,000
At the end of 2021, a company based in Amsterdam paid out a dividend of around 18 million EUR to a Russian shareholder behind which there was a sanctioned person, repaid a loan to a listed Russian company in 2019 and did not freeze shares and voting rights; in addition, a gatekeeper was misinformed. In a settlement (transactie) with the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie), the company paid 195,000 EUR and the managing director, as de facto manager, 20,000 EUR.
Dividends, loan repayments and voting rights vis-à-vis shareholders with a sanctioned owner in the background are also frozen – gatekeepers must know the full structure.
Freezing shares of listed shareholders, beneficial owners
- Authority / court
- Openbaar Ministerie (Staatsanwaltschaft der Niederlande)
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes
- Legal basis
- Sanctiewet 1977 i. V. m. EU-Finanzsanktionen gegen Russland (seit 2014)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Other
- Liability of senior managers
- The managing director paid 20,000 EUR as de facto manager.
- Published
- 23 Sep 2024
- OM: Transacties na verdenking overtredingen Sanctiewet (23.09.2024) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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17 Jul 2024 Electronics for Orlan-10 drones: 6 years 9 months' imprisonment for Saarland trader €880,000
From January 2020 to May 2023, a 59-year-old German-Russian supplied more than 120,000 electronic components in 54 instances to Russian arms manufacturers, including for the Orlan 10 reconnaissance drone, and after February 2022 named sham recipients in Hong Kong and Kyrgyzstan. The 7th Criminal Division of the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht Stuttgart, Ref. 7 St 3 BJs 119/23) sentenced him to six years and nine months, a co-defendant to one year and nine months suspended, and ordered the confiscation of 880,000 EUR.
Electronics traders must check end users: standard components end up in Russian drones, and sham recipients in third countries do not protect against punishment.
- Authority / court
- Oberlandesgericht Stuttgart, 7. Strafsenat (Az. 7 St 3 BJs 119/23)
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Breaches of sanctions and embargoes
- Legal basis
- § 18 Außenwirtschaftsgesetz i. V. m. Verordnung (EU) Nr. 833/2014
- Action
- Custodial sentence
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Culpability
- intentional
- Liability of senior managers
- Managing director of two trading companies personally sentenced to imprisonment.
- Published
- 17 Jul 2024
- OLG Stuttgart, 7. Strafsenat: Zwei Angeklagte wegen Lieferung von Elektronikbauteilen für militärisches Gerät nach Russland verurteilt (17.07.2024) Court press release
- Generalbundesanwalt: Anklage wegen mutmaßlicher Verstöße gegen das Außenwirtschaftsgesetz erhoben (05.03.2024) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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31 Oct 2023 Woerd-Tech BVWoerd-Tech BV: 200,000 EUR penalty for microchips to Russian defence customers €200,000
The company of a Russian-Dutch national from Gorssel sold microchips, semiconductors and other electronics to a Russian purchasing organisation with an FSB licence and to customers from the defence industry, and after the tightening of sanctions in 2022 routed shipments ostensibly via the Maldives and other countries. Following charges brought by the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie, OM), the Rotterdam District Court (Rechtbank Rotterdam) imposed a fine of 200,000 EUR on the BV (final after the appeals were withdrawn) and 18 months' imprisonment on the managing director (appeal proceedings pending).
Banks report suspicious Russia payments to the FIU – sham routes via third countries are uncovered in this way and hit both companies and management.
- Authority / court
- Rechtbank Rotterdam; Anklage Openbaar Ministerie
- Area of law
- Sanctions and export control · Export control and dual-use goods
- Legal basis
- Sanctiewet 1977 (EU-Russland-Sanktionen); Urkundenfälschung (valsheid in geschrifte)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Culpability
- intentional
- Liability of senior managers
- Managing director sentenced at first instance to 18 months' imprisonment; in the appeal proceedings, the OM demanded three years and a professional ban.
- Published
- 14 Apr 2025
- OM: OM eist in hoger beroep 3 jaar celstraf en een beroepsverbod voor omzeilen EU-sancties Rusland (14.04.2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link