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OFAC sanctions Mexican national linked to narcotics trafficking
On March 3, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act against a Mexican national “for his high-level role in facilitating drug shipments and money laundering for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).” According to OFAC, the individual materially assisted in, provided financial or technological support for or to, or provided goods or services in support of, CJNG activities. The designated individual joins other previously designated businesses and individuals linked to CJNG for playing “critical roles in CJNG’s drug trafficking activities, including money laundering.” As a result of the sanctions, the designated individual’s property located in the U.S. or held by U.S. persons is blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, OFAC regulations generally prohibit U.S. persons from participating in transactions with the designated individual.
OFAC sanctions Russian officials
On March 2, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13661 against seven Russian government officials in connection with the “poisoning and subsequent imprisonment of [a] Russian opposition figure.” One of the designated individuals is also being sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 13382 “for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Federal Security Service.” In conjunction with OFAC’s sanctions, the Department of State also designated several entities and persons pursuant to E.O. 13882 for “having engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery” by Russia. As a result of the sanctions, all of the property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, as well as any entities that are owned 50 percent or more by the designated persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, OFAC regulations generally prohibit U.S. persons from participating in transactions with the designated persons unless exempt or otherwise authorized by an OFAC general or specific license. OFAC further warned that “any foreign person who knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or transactions for or on behalf of one of these persons risks being sanctioned.”
OFAC sanctions key Yemeni military leaders
On March 2, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against two individuals associated with the Ansarallah militia. The sanctions are taken pursuant to Executive Order 13611, which authorizes “blocking property of persons threatening the peace, security, or stability of Yemen.” As a result of the sanctions, all of the property and interests in property of the designated individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, as well as any entities that are owned 50 percent or more by the designated individuals, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, OFAC regulations prohibit U.S. persons from participating in transactions with the designated individuals unless exempt or otherwise authorized by an OFAC general or specific license. OFAC specifies that the “prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”
OFAC amends cyber-related general license and related FAQs
On March 2, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued cyber-related General License (GL) 1B, “Authorizing Certain Transactions with the Federal Security Service,” which authorizes certain transactions and activities that are “necessary and ordinarily incident” to the “[r]equesting, receiving, utilizing, paying for, or dealing in licenses, permits, certifications, or notifications issued or registered by the Federal Security Service for the importation, distribution, or use of information technology products in the Russian Federation,” provided certain criteria are met. OFAC also published three amended FAQs related to GL 1B (see 501, 502, and 503). Effective March 2, GL 1B supersedes and replaces GL 1A, which was issued in 2018 and covered by InfoBytes here.
OFAC sanctions Saudis for human rights abuse
On February 26, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Saudi Arabia’s former Deputy Head of General Intelligence Presidency and Saudi Arabia’s Rapid Intervention Force in connection with the death of a Saudi journalist. The sanctions are taken pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and “targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.” As a result of the sanctions, all of the property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, as well as any entities that are owned 50 percent or more by the designated persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, OFAC regulations prohibit U.S. persons from participating in transactions with the designated persons unless exempt or otherwise authorized by an OFAC general or specific license.
FATF steps up combating terrorist and proliferation financing
On February 25, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) concluded another plenary meeting, in which it “advanced its work on several important issues, including finalizing a non-public report on terrorist financing and agreeing to seek public comment on updated guidance documents on virtual assets and proliferation finance.” Among other things, FAFT finalized three non-public reports outlining best practices for investigating and prosecuting terrorist financing for FATF member states, as well as an internal ISIS/Al Qaeda financing update and internal guidance designed “to assist investigative authorities trace financial flows between illicit arms traffickers and terrorists.” FATF also approved new guidance (to be published early March) intended to clarify and improve the adoption of risk-based supervision, which outlines ways supervisors should apply risk-based approaches to their activities, highlights common implementation challenges to risk-based supervision, and provides examples of effective strategies. Additionally, FAFT noted it has agreed to seek public consultation on amendments to its 2019 guidance concerning anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism obligations concerning virtual assets and virtual asset service providers, and expects to release final updated guidance this summer. FATF also stated it intends to issue new guidance this summer on ways countries and the private sector can understand and mitigate proliferation financing threats, vulnerabilities, and risks.
FFIEC updates BSA/AML examination manual
On February 25, the FFIEC published updated versions of four sections of the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Examination Manual (Manual), which provides examiners with instructions for assessing a bank’s or credit union’s BSA/AML compliance program and compliance with BSA regulatory requirements. The revisions can be identified by a 2021 date on the FFIEC BSA/AML InfoBase and include the following updated sections: Assessing Compliance with Bank Secrecy Act Regulatory Requirements, Customer Identification Program, Currency Transaction Reporting, and Transactions of Exempt Persons. The FFIEC notes that the “updates should not be interpreted as new instructions or as a new or increased focus on certain areas,” but are intended to “offer further transparency into the examination process and support risk-focused examination work.” In addition, the Manual itself does not establish requirements for financial institutions as these requirements are found in applicable statutes and regulations. (See also FDIC FIL-12-2021 and OCC Bulletin 2021-10.)
FinCEN issues warning about fraud targeting Covid-19 economic impact payments
On February 24, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory alerting financial institutions to potential fraud and other financial crimes targeting Covid-19 economic impact payments (EIP). The advisory is based on FinCEN’s analysis of Covid-19 related information obtained from Bank Secrecy Act data, public reporting, and law enforcement partners, and outlines potential methods of EIP fraud, associated red flags, and information for reporting suspicious activity related to such fraud. According to FinCEN, U.S. authorities have detected a wide range of EIP-related fraud, including (i) fraudulent, altered, or counterfeit checks; (ii) theft of EIPs; (iii) phishing schemes using EIPs as a lure, in which emails, letters, phone calls, and text messages are used by fraudsters in order to obtain personal information such as account numbers and passwords; and (iv) private companies with control over a person’s finances that seize a person’s EIP for wage garnishment or debt collection and do not return the inappropriately-seized payment.
FinCEN also issued a notice for filing suspicious activity reports (SAR) related to Covid-19. The notice consolidates filing instructions and key terms for fraudulent activities, crimes, and cyber/ransomware attacks related to the pandemic. FinCEN reminded financial institutions to consult previously issued advisories and notices to access additional SAR filing instructions and other Covid-19-related advisories and alerts (available here).
OFAC updates SDN List
On February 22, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added two entities to its Specially Designated National List pursuant to the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). One of the added entities has been designated pursuant to CAATSA Section 235, which provides the president with the authority to, among other things, “prohibit any transfers of credit or payments between financial institutions or by, through, or to any financial institution, to the extent that such transfers or payments are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and involve any interest of the sanctioned person” or “prohibit any United States person from investing in or purchasing significant amounts of equity or debt instruments of the sanctioned person.”
OFAC sanctions additional individuals connected to Burmese military coup
On February 22, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against two individuals connected to a Burmese military coup. The sanctions build upon actions taken by OFAC earlier in the month against 10 current or former military officials as well as three Burmese entities (covered by InfoBytes here), and reaffirms the U.S.’s continued work to “promote accountability for those responsible for attempting to reverse Burma’s progress toward democracy.” As a result of the sanctions all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons,” subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.