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Middle East
Related: About this forumNew US sanctions target Houthi financial network
https://www.voanews.com/a/new-us-sanctions-target-houthi-financial-network/7703693.htmlNew US sanctions target Houthi financial network
July 18, 2024 2:46 PM
By Reuters
WASHINGTON
The United States issued Yemen-related counterterrorism sanctions on Thursday targeting individuals and entities linked to Houthi financial facilitator Sa'id al-Jamal.
The Treasury Department said the actions affected a dozen people and vessels, including Indonesia-based Malaysian and Singaporean national Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad and China-based Chinese national Zhuang Liang, "who have facilitated illicit shipments and engaged in money laundering for the network."
July 18, 2024 2:46 PM
By Reuters
WASHINGTON
The United States issued Yemen-related counterterrorism sanctions on Thursday targeting individuals and entities linked to Houthi financial facilitator Sa'id al-Jamal.
The Treasury Department said the actions affected a dozen people and vessels, including Indonesia-based Malaysian and Singaporean national Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad and China-based Chinese national Zhuang Liang, "who have facilitated illicit shipments and engaged in money laundering for the network."
==========
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2469
(more links at source)
PRESS RELEASES
Treasury Maintains Pressure on Houthi Illicit Shipping and Finance Schemes
July 18, 2024
WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating and identifying as blocked property a dozen persons and vessels, respectively, that have played a critical role in financing the Houthis destabilizing regional activities as part of the network of Said al-Jamal. Todays action includes Indonesia-based Malaysian and Singaporean national Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad and Peoples Republic of China (PRC)-based Chinese national Zhuang Liang, who have facilitated illicit shipments and engaged in money laundering for the network. Said al-Jamals network continues to provide tens of millions of dollars in revenue to the Houthis in Yemen through its shipment of Iranian commodities, including oil, a funding stream underpinning the Houthis ongoing attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. This action targets numerous aspects of this illicit network across the spectrum of its operations, from clients and facilitators to insurance providers, vessels, and ship management firms.
Todays action underscores our focus on disrupting the Houthis sprawling network of financial facilitators, shell companies, and vessels, that enables the primary source of funding for the groups destabilizing activities, said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. Treasury will continue disrupt the actors who are critical to this networks operations, as well as the Houthis ability to further destabilize the region and threaten international commerce.
Todays action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. OFAC designated Said al-Jamal pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007, for providing support to multiple terrorist groups. The U.S. Department of States designation of Ansarallah (commonly known as the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, became effective on February 16, 2024.
KEY INTERNATIONAL ILLICIT FINANCE AND SHIPPING FACILITATORS
Malaysian and Singaporean national Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad (Royston), also known as Royston Wu Chiren or Mohammad Roslan Royston, is an Indonesia-based illicit shipment facilitator who provides ship management and brokering services for Said al-Jamals network. Royston has facilitated the Said al-Jamal networks shipments to Malaysia. Royston has also brokered vessels for illicit Russian and Venezuelan trade.
PRC-based businessman Zhuang Liang (Zhuang) has engaged in money laundering and other finance-related schemes for the Said al-Jamal network, including working with Said al-Jamal and the IRGC-QF to further Said al-Jamals illicit business operations. Zhuang has similarly assisted Said al-Jamal business partner and Houthi-affiliate Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud (Mahamud) in circumventing sanctions by illicitly providing him access to the international financial system.
OFAC designated Mahamud concurrently with Said al-Jamal for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal. Today, OFAC is updating Mahamuds entry on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) to reflect his use of a Somali diplomatic passport, D00015633, to travel internationally. Said al-Jamal has similarly traveled under the alias Ahmad Saeidi with Iran-issued passports U63475649 and E49297849, each of which is also being added to the SDN List today.
Zhuang and Royston are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal.
ILLICIT SHIPPING NETWORK
Said al-Jamals network relies on numerous, seemingly innocuous, companies in multiple jurisdictions to illicitly generate tens of millions of dollars of revenue. Seychelles- registered, Thailand and Singapore-based Ascent General Insurance Company has provided insurance to vessels that were identified as blocked property of those sanctioned for providing support to Said al-Jamal. United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Fornacis Energy Trading Co. L.L.C has purchased and shipped tens of millions of dollars worth of Iranian cargo for the Said al-Jamal network.
Ascent General Insurance Company and Fornacis Energy Trading Co. L.L.C are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal.
Marshall Islands-registered and UAE-based Barco Ship Management Inc (Barco) is the ship manager and commercial manager of multiple vessels, including the Panama-flagged WANJI (IMO: 9215103), which has been utilized by Said al-Jamals network for illicit shipments to the UAE worth tens of millions of dollars. Barco additionally manages and operates the Panama-flagged vessel OCEANIC II (IMO: 9275995) and the Panama-flagged vessel TIREX (IMO: 9203772). Like Barco, the Marshall Islands-registered Sea Knot Shipping Inc. has used the vessel MIROVA DYNAMIC (IMO: 9237618) to transport illicit shipments worth tens of millions of dollars for Said al-Jamal.
Barco and Sea Knot Shipping Inc. are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal. The WANJI, OCEANIC II, and TIREX are being identified as blocked property in which Barco has an interest. MIROVA DYNAMIC is being identified as blocked property in which Sea Knot Shipping Inc. has an interest.
UAE-based Alpha Shine Marine Services L.L.C is the ship manager of the Panama-flagged vessel KASPER (IMO: 9293143), which has been used by the Said al-Jamal network to facilitate millions of dollars worth of illicit trade under forged shipping documents.
Alpha Shine Marine Services L.L.C is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal. The KASPER is being identified as blocked property in which Alpha Shine Marine Services L.L.C has an interest.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of todays action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFACs regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFACs ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFACs Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.
Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated and vessel identified today.
Treasury Maintains Pressure on Houthi Illicit Shipping and Finance Schemes
July 18, 2024
WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating and identifying as blocked property a dozen persons and vessels, respectively, that have played a critical role in financing the Houthis destabilizing regional activities as part of the network of Said al-Jamal. Todays action includes Indonesia-based Malaysian and Singaporean national Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad and Peoples Republic of China (PRC)-based Chinese national Zhuang Liang, who have facilitated illicit shipments and engaged in money laundering for the network. Said al-Jamals network continues to provide tens of millions of dollars in revenue to the Houthis in Yemen through its shipment of Iranian commodities, including oil, a funding stream underpinning the Houthis ongoing attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. This action targets numerous aspects of this illicit network across the spectrum of its operations, from clients and facilitators to insurance providers, vessels, and ship management firms.
Todays action underscores our focus on disrupting the Houthis sprawling network of financial facilitators, shell companies, and vessels, that enables the primary source of funding for the groups destabilizing activities, said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. Treasury will continue disrupt the actors who are critical to this networks operations, as well as the Houthis ability to further destabilize the region and threaten international commerce.
Todays action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. OFAC designated Said al-Jamal pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007, for providing support to multiple terrorist groups. The U.S. Department of States designation of Ansarallah (commonly known as the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, became effective on February 16, 2024.
KEY INTERNATIONAL ILLICIT FINANCE AND SHIPPING FACILITATORS
Malaysian and Singaporean national Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad (Royston), also known as Royston Wu Chiren or Mohammad Roslan Royston, is an Indonesia-based illicit shipment facilitator who provides ship management and brokering services for Said al-Jamals network. Royston has facilitated the Said al-Jamal networks shipments to Malaysia. Royston has also brokered vessels for illicit Russian and Venezuelan trade.
PRC-based businessman Zhuang Liang (Zhuang) has engaged in money laundering and other finance-related schemes for the Said al-Jamal network, including working with Said al-Jamal and the IRGC-QF to further Said al-Jamals illicit business operations. Zhuang has similarly assisted Said al-Jamal business partner and Houthi-affiliate Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud (Mahamud) in circumventing sanctions by illicitly providing him access to the international financial system.
OFAC designated Mahamud concurrently with Said al-Jamal for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal. Today, OFAC is updating Mahamuds entry on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) to reflect his use of a Somali diplomatic passport, D00015633, to travel internationally. Said al-Jamal has similarly traveled under the alias Ahmad Saeidi with Iran-issued passports U63475649 and E49297849, each of which is also being added to the SDN List today.
Zhuang and Royston are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal.
ILLICIT SHIPPING NETWORK
Said al-Jamals network relies on numerous, seemingly innocuous, companies in multiple jurisdictions to illicitly generate tens of millions of dollars of revenue. Seychelles- registered, Thailand and Singapore-based Ascent General Insurance Company has provided insurance to vessels that were identified as blocked property of those sanctioned for providing support to Said al-Jamal. United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Fornacis Energy Trading Co. L.L.C has purchased and shipped tens of millions of dollars worth of Iranian cargo for the Said al-Jamal network.
Ascent General Insurance Company and Fornacis Energy Trading Co. L.L.C are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal.
Marshall Islands-registered and UAE-based Barco Ship Management Inc (Barco) is the ship manager and commercial manager of multiple vessels, including the Panama-flagged WANJI (IMO: 9215103), which has been utilized by Said al-Jamals network for illicit shipments to the UAE worth tens of millions of dollars. Barco additionally manages and operates the Panama-flagged vessel OCEANIC II (IMO: 9275995) and the Panama-flagged vessel TIREX (IMO: 9203772). Like Barco, the Marshall Islands-registered Sea Knot Shipping Inc. has used the vessel MIROVA DYNAMIC (IMO: 9237618) to transport illicit shipments worth tens of millions of dollars for Said al-Jamal.
Barco and Sea Knot Shipping Inc. are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal. The WANJI, OCEANIC II, and TIREX are being identified as blocked property in which Barco has an interest. MIROVA DYNAMIC is being identified as blocked property in which Sea Knot Shipping Inc. has an interest.
UAE-based Alpha Shine Marine Services L.L.C is the ship manager of the Panama-flagged vessel KASPER (IMO: 9293143), which has been used by the Said al-Jamal network to facilitate millions of dollars worth of illicit trade under forged shipping documents.
Alpha Shine Marine Services L.L.C is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Said al-Jamal. The KASPER is being identified as blocked property in which Alpha Shine Marine Services L.L.C has an interest.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of todays action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFACs regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFACs ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFACs Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.
Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated and vessel identified today.
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