An aircraft manufacturer, which failed on multiple occasions to keep accurate records of transfers of controlled technology as per the conditions of three of its Open General Export Licences (OGELs), has had to pay more than £6.4 million to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Airbus Operations Limited (AOL) received the highest compound settlement ever reached by HMRC for strategic export offences after the company admitted multiple breaches of Strategic Export Controls.
This was an out of court agreement, intended to save time and money for both the offender and HMRC by avoiding the need for legal proceedings. The full details of the case are available here.
The case was brought to HMRC’s attention following a voluntary disclosure by AOL. It has since implemented appropriate remediation measures.
Edwige Hill, Deputy Director in HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said; “The UK operates a strict licensing regime to uphold the UK’s Export Control regime to ensure military equipment does not fall into the wrong hands. We use a range of powers to ensure effective controls and enforcement on military goods, which contributes to the UK’s national security.”
The export control licensing regime covers certain strategic goods such as military items, dual use items (which have both military and civilian functions) and goods that can be used in Weapons of Mass Destruction programmes.
