**UK Businessman Won’t Face Charges for Selling Luxury Perfume in Russia**
A UK businessman, David Crisp, won’t face criminal charges for selling luxury perfume in Russia despite government sanctions. The BBC reported on November 24 that an investigation into his activities was dropped earlier this year.
**Crisp’s Confession Caught on Camera**
In 2023, a private investigator caught Crisp admitting to ignoring trade sanctions and selling high-end perfume in Russia. The video shows Crisp saying “we ignore government edicts” and that sales in Russia were doing well despite the challenges of getting products there.
**Sanctions Banned Luxury Perfume Sales**
The UK imposed sanctions against Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including a ban on luxury perfume products. Crisp’s former business partner, David Garofalo, hired the undercover investigator after he became suspicious that Crisp was continuing to sell to Russian customers.
**Investigation Dropped Despite Evidence**
Despite evidence against Crisp, which included company paperwork and international shipping data, the investigation was dropped in July 2024. The U.K.’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) agency said it would take no further action against Crisp.
**Criticisms from UK Lawmaker**
UK lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith criticized the government’s track record on sanctions enforcement. “If we don’t prosecute, who the hell is deterred from breaching sanctions?” he said.
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