The creation of this dedicated unit is a response to the ongoing need to enforce stringent trade sanctions effectively. The OTSI will be responsible for the civil enforcement of trade sanctions, particularly those targeting Russia. This includes investigating potential breaches, issuing civil penalties, and referring cases for criminal enforcement to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) where necessary.
Minister Nusrat Ghani emphasized the success of the current sanctions, citing a significant 94% drop in goods imports from Russia to the UK since the imposition of the sanctions. Our package of sanctions, the most severe ever imposed on a major economy, is working,” said Ghani. The OTSI aims to further these efforts by preventing companies from circumventing sanctions through indirect methods, such as routing products through other countries.
