OLAF launches investigation into tobacco company

11 Sep 2012

It has been reported that the European Commission’s European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has launched an investigation into Japan Tobacco Inc for alleged breaches of sanctions in respect of Syria. It is alleged that a Swiss subsidiary of the firm sold millions of cartons of cigarettes to a firm which was at least partially owned by the Makhlouf family, who are related to the Syrian President, in May 2011.