BE-2019-CHEMICAL-WEAPONS-SYRIANationale GerichteBelgienIsopropanol and chemical precursors
Belgian court convicted AAE Chemie trading company for illegally exporting 168 tonnes of isopropanol to Syria between 2014-2016, knowing the chemical could be used as a precursor for sarin nerve agent. The company used false end-user certificates and routed shipments through Lebanon.
Zitierte ECNs:1C350
Wichtige Feststellungen (5)
- Chemical precursors listed in 1C350 are controlled regardless of the stated civilian end-use when the destination raises WMD concerns
- Isopropanol is a dual-use chemical - legitimate industrial solvent but also precursor for sarin and other chemical weapons
- False end-user certificates constitute a criminal offense independent of the underlying export control violation
- Belgian courts can impose both criminal penalties (imprisonment) and civil forfeiture for export control violations
- The prosecution successfully proved 'knowledge or reasonable suspicion' of military end-use based on destination (Syria during chemical weapons attacks) and volume