Update: Dan-Bunkering Syria jet fuel supply ops allegedly longer than thought

International marine fuels trading firm Dan-Bunkering’s jet fuel supply operations to Russian tankers lasted between 2015 to 2017, alleges the Danish State Prosecutor of Serious Economic and International Crime (SOIK), according to Danish media DR on Wednesday (18 September, Denmark time).

Dan-Bunkering, including another unidentified company, and two individuals on Tuesday were facing preliminary charges by SOIK over violation of EU Syria sanctions for supplies of jet fuel to tankers operated by a Russian firm called Maritime.

The latest three-year period was more than the earlier reported duration between 2016 to the middle of 2017 where at least 30,000 mt of jet fuel were believed to have been supplied to Russian tankers delivering fuel to Russian fighter jets bombing Syria –  a violation of EU Syria sanctions.

Several individuals have offered DR comments in regard to the new information of Dan-Bunkering’s purported extended jet fuel supply period.

Karina Lorentzen, a spokesperson of the Socialist People's Party, said:

It surprises me that this may have been going on for longer than we expected, and that means that the number of deliveries may have been greater, and therefore it is good that the investigation is now underway.

Peter Skaarup a member of the Danish People's Party, commented he will be asking the Justice Minister Nick Hekkerup for an update:

We will now ask the Minister of Justice to inform the Parliamentary Committee on the latest dramatic developments in the case. One has to say that it is such an aggravating circumstance that the case can now apparently date all the way back to 2015.

Thomas Elholm, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Copenhagen, believes the new information of the increased duration of the jet fuel supply operation may impact the seriousness of the case:

It could indicate that the back-office police has uncovered more. The more violations over the longer period, the more serious a criminal case will typically be.

Earlier coverage leading to the recent development can be found below:

Related: Dan-Bunkering faces preliminary charges by SOIK with violation of EU Syria sanctions
Related: Investigations on Dan-Bunkering over alleged Syrian jet fuel deal start
Related: Danske Bank casts doubts on Dan-Bunkering reason for Syria investigation
Related: Danske Bank reported Dan-Bunkering to police in EU sanctions case
Related: Bunker company acknowledges flawed statement in EU sanctions case
Related: Unioil Supply dragged into Dan-Bunkering sanctions allegations
Related: Dan-Bunkering has not violated EU’s sanctions against Syria, it insists
Related: Nordea highlights stance on compliance after Dan-Bunkering discovery
Related: Danish media alleges Dan-Bunkering jet fuel deliveries during Syria war

Source: DR
Photo credit: Court in Odense / Per Johansen
Published: 19 September, 2019