Sanctions avoidance: Prison sentences for illegal electronics deliveries to Russia

The Hamburg Regional Court sentenced two men to prison terms of six years and nine months and three years and six months for violations of the Foreign Trade Act. In addition, the confiscation of €63,600 was ordered.

Alleged offense

Between September 2022 and November 2023, the defendants delivered electronic components worth almost €1.2 million to Russia. The components—diodes, circuits, and transistors—can be used to build military drones.

Sanctions evasion

The deliveries were made in deliberate disregard of the EU embargo measures against Russia. The goods were routed to Russia via intermediate recipients in Armenia, China, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.

The court found ten cases of gang-related and commercial violations to be proven.

Sentencing

The fact that the crimes were committed in complicity, commercially, and as members of a gang was considered an aggravating factor. The court found ten cases of gang-related and commercial offenses to be proven.