Rotten Company

British American Tobacco p.l.c.

Approved Evidence

Added to Rotten Company: 8/20/2026
Conduct/Event period: 2007–2017
Ongoing: No
Resolution status: Resolved
Resolution date: April 25, 2023
misconduct

British American Tobacco Paid More Than $629 Million Over North Korea Sanctions and Bank Fraud Violations

Summary

In April 2023, British American Tobacco p.l.c. and subsidiary BAT Marketing Singapore agreed to pay more than $629 million to resolve U.S. criminal and sanctions-enforcement matters arising from business conducted in North Korea. The U.S. Department of Justice said the companies used a third-party company in Singapore to continue selling tobacco products into North Korea and concealed the connection to North Korean business from U.S. financial institutions. BAT entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, while BAT Marketing Singapore pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. DOJ described the resolution as the largest North Korea sanctions penalty in Department history. Sources: U.S. Department of Justice https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/british-american-tobacco-pay-629-million-fines-n-korean-tobacco-sales-charges-unsealed DOJ case page https://www.justice.gov/nsd/case/united-states-v-british-american-tobacco-plc-et-al

Evidence Weight
100.00
Severity: high
Recency Weight: 99.99710923553717
File Weight: 1