UNICORN PRIVATE Sanctions fines in France: cases and penalties
Decisions of French courts and of other authorities against companies of French groups.
In short
Published cases on this page: 2. Authorities: 2. Years: 2022 to 2026.
In the United States (OFAC, BIS) and in the United Kingdom (OFSI, since 15 June 2022) civil liability is strict: a company can be fined even if it did not know that the counterparty was sanctioned.
Amounts are shown in the currency of the decision and are never converted.
Good to know
- Lafarge is the only case decided by a French authority in this list: a first-instance judgment of the Paris Judicial Court of 13 April 2026.
- No national conviction of an industrial or exporting company for exports to Russia was found.
- CA Indosuez (Switzerland) S.A., a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole group, was fined by the US Treasury (OFAC).
Cases
Cases shown: 2 of 2
| Sector | What happened | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAFARGE SACriminal court judgmentFirst-instance judgment. | France | Manufacturing for export | Tribunal judiciaire de Paris | €1,125,000 (criminal fine) €4,570,000 (customs fine, jointly and severally) |
Through its Syrian subsidiary the group paid about €5.6m to ISIS and other armed groups via intermediaries and suppliers they controlled, breaching EU sanctions. Official source verified on November 13, 2026 | |
| CA Indosuez (Switzerland) S.A. (Crédit Agricole)Civil enforcement action (penalty or settlement) | France (group) / Switzerland | Banks and financial intermediaries | OFAC (US Treasury) | $720,258 | The bank ran dollar accounts for 17 clients living in sanctioned countries, although its KYC files showed those addresses. Official source verified on November 13, 2026 |
Select a column heading to sort the table. Amounts are shown in the currency of the decision and are never converted.
Totals by year and by authority
Sums of the amounts imposed on companies in this list, by currency, never converted. Not included: breaches published without a fine, anti money laundering penalties, confiscations and amounts imposed on individuals. A total marked about or more than includes an amount that the source gives as approximate or as a minimum.
By year
| Year | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | €5,695,000 |
| 2022 | 1 | $720,258 |
By authority
| Authority | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| OFAC (US Treasury) | 1 | $720,258 |
| Tribunal judiciaire de Paris | 1 | €5,695,000 |
Maximum penalties set by law
Maximums in the law, as verified on the official texts linked:
- European Union, Directive (EU) 2024/1226: each Member State must provide, for companies, maximum fines of no less than 5% of worldwide turnover or €40 million (1% or €8 million for some reporting obligations), and for individuals maximum prison terms of at least 5 years for the main offences above €100,000 and for military or dual-use goods. The offences require intent (serious negligence for military and dual-use goods). Transposition deadline: 20 May 2025. (Official source)
- France: former article 459 of the Customs Code, up to 5 years in prison, confiscation and a fine of one to two times the sum involved; recodified from 1 May 2026 as articles L. 542-1 and following. The directive has not been transposed in substance (bill no. 2544 pending). (Official source)
Frequently asked questions
How much can a company be fined for sanctions breaches in France?
European Union, Directive (EU) 2024/1226: each Member State must provide, for companies, maximum fines of no less than 5% of worldwide turnover or €40 million (1% or €8 million for some reporting obligations), and for individuals maximum prison terms of at least 5 years for the main offences above €100,000 and for military or dual-use goods. The offences require intent (serious negligence for military and dual-use goods). Transposition deadline: 20 May 2025. France: former article 459 of the Customs Code, up to 5 years in prison, confiscation and a fine of one to two times the sum involved; recodified from 1 May 2026 as articles L. 542-1 and following. The directive has not been transposed in substance (bill no. 2544 pending).
Which companies have been fined in cases involving this country?
This page lists 2 published cases. The largest amounts are: LAFARGE SA (Tribunal judiciaire de Paris, Criminal court judgment, April 13, 2026): €5,695,000; CA Indosuez (Switzerland) S.A. (Crédit Agricole) (OFAC (US Treasury), September 26, 2022): $720,258. Lafarge is the only case decided by a French authority in this list: a first-instance judgment of the Paris Judicial Court of 13 April 2026.
Has France transposed the EU sanctions directive?
Not in substance as of 13 November 2026: bill no. 2544 was pending. The customs offence applies (former article 459 of the Customs Code, recodified from 1 May 2026 as articles L. 542-1 and following).
Who punishes sanctions breaches in France?
The criminal courts, such as the Paris Judicial Court in the Lafarge case, which imposed a criminal fine and a customs fine.
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List not exhaustive, based on public official sources. Date of the last verification: November 13, 2026.
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