Canada files first charges for sanctions violations

Last week, Global News reported that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had arrested a Toronto businessman on suspicion of exporting restricted goods to Russia. This happened a few months after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Police confirmed that Anton Trofimov was taken into custody on May 22. He is accused of selling materials to Russia that could have been used to manufacture weapons.

This arrest was the first case of enforcement under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA), legislation that has imposed export controls on Russia since 2014 in response to its military invasion of Ukraine.

“We can confirm that this is the first criminal proceeding under SEMA based on Russian sanctions provisions,” said Natalie Howell, press secretary for the Office of the Prosecutor General of Canada.

Although the indictment does not mention drones, Trofimov and his associated companies were added to the US sanctions list in 2023 for allegedly supplying microelectronics to Russian military drone manufacturers.

Global News was unable to obtain comments from Trofimov or his lawyer. He was released on bail after posting $5,000 and is required to appear in court in Toronto on June 30.

The KCCP said it plans to hold a press conference “in the near future” to officially announce details of the case, which it called “important.” At the same time, law enforcement officials said they would not provide additional information about the investigation.

Source: Global News