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OFAC sanctions over 40 individuals and entities in nine countries
On December 9, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against 40 individuals and entities that are connected to corruption or human rights abuse across nine countries, in recognition of International Anti-Corruption Day and Human Rights Day. According to OFAC, throughout 2022, Treasury “took numerous actions to promote accountability for human rights abusers and corrupt actors across the world, including sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities including in the Western Balkans, Belarus, Liberia, Guatemala, the Russian Federation, Burma, and Iran. Treasury utilized various tools and authorities — including Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act — to demonstrate the U.S. government’s focus on promoting respect for human rights and countering corruption.” As a result of the sanctions, all transactions by U.S. persons or in the U.S. that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are generally prohibited. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, must be blocked and 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 OFAC license.
OFAC sanctions Haitian politicians
On December 2, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14059 against two Haitian politicians for their involvement in activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to enforcement. Additionally, OFAC warned that engaging in certain transactions with the designated individuals could expose entities to sanctions or subject them to an enforcement action.
OFAC sanctions officials connected to DPRK
On December 1, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against three North Korean officials for providing support to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles. According to OFAC, the designations are “in line with wider multilateral efforts to impede the DPRK’s ability to advance its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs that threaten regional stability.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned entity that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC, as well as “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons.” OFAC noted that its regulations prohibit U.S. persons from participating in transactions with designated persons unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC.
OFAC sanctions Hizballah accountants and weapons facilitator
On December 1, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13224 against two individuals and two companies based in Lebanon for providing financial services to Hizballah. OFAC also designated another individual for actively working to procure weapons for Hizballah. According to OFAC, the designations target persons that manage and enable Hizballah’s financial operations throughout Lebanon, including Hizballah’s “quasi-financial institution” and its central finance unit. As a result, all property, and interests in property of the designated persons, “and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” OFAC regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated persons. OFAC cautioned that “persons that engage in certain transactions with the persons designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.” Additionally, OFAC warned that a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates a significant transaction on behalf of any of the designated persons could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
OFAC sanctions Iranian officials
On November 23, the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13553 against three Iranian security officials related to the Iranian regime’s continued crackdown on ongoing protests throughout the country, including most recently in Kurdish areas. According to OFAC, the Iranian regime has increased its aggressive actions against the Iranian people as part of its ongoing suppression of peaceful protests against a regime that denies human rights and fundamental freedoms to its people. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals designated today may themselves be exposed to designation. Additionally, OFAC warned that “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the persons designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”
OFAC sanctions persons exploiting Guatemala mining sector
On November 18, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13818 against a Russian national and a Belarusian national, as well as three associated entities, “for their role in exploiting the Guatemalan mining sector.” OFAC noted that the designations demonstrate “the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to impose tangible and significant consequences on corrupt actors in order to protect the U.S. financial system from abuse,” as well as its commitment “to identifying acts of corruption and promoting accountability for corrupt actors and disrupting their access to the U.S. and international financial system.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Further, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are 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 OFAC license.
OFAC announces sanctions tied to Mexican drug cartel
On November 17, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14059 against a Mexican drug cartel and its co-leaders for “having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.” OFAC attributed its actions in part to a “critical” partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mexican government. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.
OFAC sanctions Iranian companies for petrochemicals and petroleum sales
On November 17, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 13846, against 13 companies in multiple jurisdictions for their involvement in the sale of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum products to buyers in East Asia on behalf of sanctioned Iranian petrochemical brokers. According to OFAC, the designations are the fifth round of designations targeting Iran’s illicit petroleum and petrochemical trade since June 2022. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to enforcement. Additionally, OFAC warned that “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”
OFAC sanctions Iranian media corporation
On November 16, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13846 against six senior employees of the Iranian state-run media corporation that has broadcast hundreds of forced confessions of Iranian, dual national, and international detainees in Iran. According to OFAC, the corporation was designated in 2013 and does not act “as objective media outlet but rather as a critical tool in the Iranian government’s mass suppression and censorship campaign against its own people.” OFAC also noted that the corporation has “recently broadcast televised interviews of individuals being forced to confess that their relatives were not killed by Iranian authorities during nationwide protests but died due to accidental, unrelated causes.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated today may themselves be exposed to designation. Additionally, OFAC warned that “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”
OFAC sanctions firms for aiding Russia’s acquisition of UAVs
On November 15, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Orders (E.O.) 13382 and 14024 against several firms responsible for the production and transfer of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia for use in the country’s war against Ukraine. OFAC also designated two individuals who facilitated the acquisition of UAVs for a previously State Department-designated company. According to the announcement, the designations “implement commitments to target international actors involved in supporting Russia’s war machine, as highlighted by OFAC FAQs 1091 and 1092 and reinforced by an October 14, 2022 meeting of senior officials in Washington representing ministries of finance and other government agencies from 33 countries, in which the participants acknowledged the significance of sanction actions taken so far and discussed additional steps to further impair Russia’s military-industrial complex and critical defense supply chains.” The sanctions follow OFAC’s September designations against several persons involved in the shipment, production, and procurement of UAVs for Russia’s benefit. (Covered by InfoBytes here.) As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Additionally, persons that engage in certain transactions with the sanctions individuals or entities may themselves be exposed to sanctions. OFAC further warned that “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today pursuant to E.O. 13382 could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”
The same day, the Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and State issued a joint alert detailing the impact of international sanctions and export controls on Russia’s military-industrial complex to date.