Europol tightens the net on EU sanctions evasion

The centre is dedicated to identifying and disrupting criminal networks involved in the evasion of EU sanctions against russia, “as criminal networks develop ever more sophisticated methods to bypass restrictive measures linked to russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine”.

The Target Group Sanctions uses Europol’s intelligence, analytical and financial-tracing capabilities to help investigators uncover illicit trade routes, track financial flows and detect related criminal activities, such as money laundering, customs fraud and document forgery.

The new capability has already provided direct support to several investigations into suspected sanctions evasion across the EU, Europol says.

To further reinforce the EU’s response to sanctions circumvention, Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) have launched a joint initiative – Project Transporter. This project focuses on vehicle exports to third countries for possible onward transfer to russia and Belarus.

“EU Member States have reported a sharp increase in these shipments, often supported by forged paperwork, complex diversion routes and money laundering indicators pointing to organised, commercially driven attempts to evade EU measures,” Europol said in a press release.

Project Transporter will bring together specialist investigators from customs, police and financial crime services to strengthen information exchange, share investigative techniques and deepen operational coordination across Europe.

These initiatives were launched as part of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), which tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU.

Source: EU NEIGHBOURS east