Corruption and Russian sanctions
In a move to support Ukraine and coming after those who are trying to circumvent sanctions, Europol reports on the criminal networks which have developed even more sophisticated methods to bypass restrictive measures linked to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The mechanism that they are employing is “the ‘Target Group Sanctions’, a new team within its European Financial and Economic Crime Centre dedicated to identifying and disrupting criminal networks involved in sanctions evasion.” Additionally, Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) have have also launched a joint initiative: Project Transporter, which focuses on vehicle exports to third countries for possible onward transfer to Russia and Belarus. All of this activity is due to a sharp increase in illicit cross border shipments, often supported by forged paperwork, complex diversion routes and money laundering which point to organized, commercially driven attempts to evade EU measures. The EU continues to track financial flows and detect related criminal activities, such as money laundering, customs fraud and document forgery.
Why should we pay attention to this and what more needs to be done? What is reassuring is that there is still significant interest from enforcement agencies across the EU to support the Ukrainian government. This includes a combination of preventive actions as well as enforcement activities to identify criminal actors across Europe. Such management and administrative focus reminds not only the donors that more needs to occur but provides the public with an ongoing understanding that diligence in these matters are important. This also reminds the officials who work in these areas, border and customs, that there is significant oversight by enforcement groups. As always, monitoring by CSOs as well as the public can provide government officials with information about questionable actions. Donors also should be vigilant and oversight in these areas is extremely important. Yet, it seems that the EU is keeping a close eye on sanctions violations which is reassuring.
Link:
https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/europe-tightens-net-sanctions-evasion