March 29, 2024
News

British American Tobacco to pay record $629 million fine over North Korea sales

Cigarette makers staged ‘elaborate scheme’ that fueled regime’s habit and violated sanctions, US authorities say

A leading tobacco company has agreed to pay a record $629 million in penalties and fines to resolve bank fraud and sanctions violation charges associated with its tobacco operations in North Korea, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

British American Tobacco (BAT) has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and its subsidiary BAT Marketing Singapore (BATMS) pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), according to a Justice Department press release.

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