Export Control Prosecutions Notices
Details of all published export control prosecutions and compound penalty cases.
Read press releases on export control and customs issues including news of company infringements and enforcements publicised in the local and national press. For wider Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) news access the BIS Press Notices page or for wider government issues go to the COI News Distribution Network.
Enforcement of Export Controls
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is responsible for enforcing export controls. Breaching the controls is a criminal offence. The penalties vary depending on the type of offence (whether it was done "knowingly") and HRMC can use a number of enforcement methods at its disposal, such as seizing goods or issuing a compound penalty. Ultimately an export control offence can result in a fine or a prison sentence of up to ten years. Court cases are prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Exporters are encouraged to export with due care and attention and meet their export control responsibilities. You can find out more from the export control pages on the Businesslink website.
Violations of Export Controls
The following cases demonstrate the risks of exporting without an export licence, if required by law. You can also view a summary list of recent compound penalty cases.
| Date | Press Release |
|---|
| 29 October 2010 |
Business owner jailed for selling controlled goods without a licence to Iran (DOC, 469 Kb) On 15 October, Mr Bisgrove pleaded guilty to five counts of knowingly exporting restricted goods without a licence. Read more... |
| 29 October 2010 |
Former Royal Marine jailed for knowingly exporting controlled goods without a licence (DOC, 469 Kb) On 5 October, Mr Andrew Faulkner was convicted for the export of hi-tech sniper scopes to Iran. In his summing up the judge concluded that Faulkner "knew from experience the harm this equipment could cause in this volatile area of the world, and he knew the risk of their use against coalition forces". Read more... |
| 29 October 2010 |
Businesswoman prosecuted for breach of UK Trade Controls (DOC, 465 Kb) On 21 September, a long running case resulted in another successful prosecution for HMRC. Read more.... |
| 29 October 2010 |
Three men jailed for breaching UK arms embargo to Iran (Update on confiscation proceedings) (DOC, 471 Kb) In May 2009, HMRC successfully prosecuted the perpetrators of a plot to supply military equipment to keep Iranian F-14 'Tomcat' fighter jets airborne and combat ready. In September 2010, confiscation proceedings were awarded against all three men totally over £800,000. Read more... |
| 1 October 2010 |
Exporters plead guilty to Export and Trade Control offences (DOC, 470 Kb) HMRC recently prosecuted two cases in which the defendents pleaded guilty to export or trade control offences. In the first case, Mr Teal and Mr Jones were prosecuted for deliberate evasion of UK export controls for the supply of military goods. In the second case, Mr Sayeed, pleaded guilty to the illegal supply of 14 Uzi sub-machine guns and was prosecuted for trade control offences. Read more about the details of both cases.... |
| 28 February 2010 |
Two arms dealers convicted for trading illegally in military goods without a trade control licence (DOC, 486 Kb) On 8 February, two British arms dealers were found guilty of trading in controlled goods with intent to evade controls and sentenced to nine years and seven years respectively. Summing up the case the judge concluded that both men "knowingly traded in large amounts of ammunition" with the potential for "horrendous" consequences. Read more about the details of the case... |
| 6 November 2009 |
Jail sentence for selling military "troop transporters" to Sudan
(DOC, 468 Kb)
On 4 November Mr Andrew Jackson, owner of Doncaster-based L Jackson & Co, was given a two year, eight month jail term at Southwark Crown Court after admitting breaking an arms embargo by selling military vehicles to Sudan without a licence. Read more... |
2 March 2009
|
Mining company fined for attempted export of military vehicles without a licence
Milestone Trading Ltd were recently found guilty of breaching export control legislation by attempting to export controlled goods without a licence. Don't get caught out in the same way. Read more.... |
| 14 March 2008 |
UK Businessman jailed for Iran missile guidance exports
UK businessman Mehrdad Salashoor was today jailed for 18 months and fined over £430,000 for illegally exporting 'gyrocompass' navigation devices for missile guidance systems to Iran. Read more about the case.... |
| 26 November 2007 |
Arms dealer jailed for four years
Arms dealer John Knight was jailed for four years on Friday 23 November 2007 after pleading guilty to the illegal sale of 130 MPT 9 machine guns in the Middle East. This is the first prosecution under the Trade in Goods (Control) Order 2003. Read more..... |
| July 2007 |
Fine and Compound Penalty for exporting without a licence Details of two recent cases of export control prosecutions. Read more.... |
| 19 September 2006 |
Exporters of Body Armour and Helmets caught by HM Revenue and Customs and fined Two UK companies, ‘Peace Keeper International Ltd’ and ‘Winchester Procurement Ltd’ have been fined for exporting ballistic protection clothing, military specified flak jackets and helmets without the correct export licences, following investigations by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Read more..... |
| 12 July 2005 |
Exporter caught by customs trying to send Military Components to Iran
Details of the prosecution of Mr Homayouni, director of Multicore Ltd, for export control offences. Read more... |
| 16 May 2005 |
Exporter of Protective Vests caught by customs and fined
A UK company, Praetorian Associates, was fined £2500 with £100 costs on 10 May 2005 by the City of London Magistrates’ Court for trying to export five protective vests to Pakistan without having the right documents in place. Read more..... |
Export Control Organisation
Updated: 29 October 2010
