DHL Fined $9.4 Million for Embargo Violations

DHL Express will pay the U.S. government $9.4 million in fines to settle a dispute that it made shipments to Iran, Sudan and Syria in violation of U.S. embargoes, the Associated Press reported.

The Treasury Department alleged that unit of Germany-based Deutsche Post made more than 300 shipments from the U.S. to Iran and Sudan between 2002 and 2007 in violation of U.S. embargoes with those countries, AP said.

The Commerce Department also alleged export violations when DHL it made shipments to Syria between June and September 2004. U.S. rules prohibit shipments of most goods to Iran, Sudan and Syria, AP reported.

DHL said the transactions involved “correspondence, personal items or consumer goods” and that “the U.S. government has not alleged that DHL transported shipments of strategic sensitivity to these countries,” a company spokesman told AP.

DHL USA, ranked No. 3 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers, said it has since taken measures to make sure its shipments and record keeping comply with U.S requirements.