Airbus Operations Limited has paid a record £6.4 million compound settlement
Airbus Operations Limited (AOL) has paid more than £6.4 million to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after admitting multiple breaches of Strategic Export Controls.
The payment represents the highest compound settlement ever reached by HMRC for strategic export offences.
AOL announced the breach in its quarterly earnings notes and details have been published on GOV.UK .
The company failed to keep records of any tangible or intangible export or transfer of controlled technology over a sustained period.
AOL self-reported the breaches to HMRC and fully cooperated with the investigation.
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. This settlement shows we will not hesitate to take action.
The breaches made by AOL included:
Article 29(2)(a-g) on multiple occasions for failing to keep accurate records of transfers of controlled technology as per the conditions of three of their Open General Export Licences (OGELs)
Article 29(3) on multiple occasions for failing to keep registers in relation to their OGELs
Article 29(2)(i) on multiple occasions for failing to keep accurate records contrary to the conditions of one of their OGELs
Standard Individual Export Licence - on one occasion relating to a failure of licence conditions
