The U.S. this week sanctioned more than 100 people, entities and ships supporting Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine, including one of its top metals producers and leading construction companies, Kyrgyz Republic firms sending Moscow dual-use technologies, and other businesses helping the government evade international sanctions. The new designations are meant to further restrict Russia’s ability to import military goods and technology, slash revenue from its mining sector, undermine its energy capabilities and “degrade Russia’s access to the international financial system,” the Treasury Department said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned North Macedonian businessman Jordan Kamcev for corruption, saying he abused his office and laundered money for more than a decade. Brian Nelson, the Treasury Department’s terrorism and financial intelligence undersecretary, said Kamcev pursued a “self-serving agenda at the expense of North Macedonia’s democratic institutions and citizens.”
Three Belgian nationals and one Mexican national were sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control this week for their role in international drug trafficking, including cocaine and fentanyl. The designations target Othman El Ballouti, Younes El Ballouti and Youssef Ben Azza, three Belgians involved in an international criminal organization that smuggles “significant quantities” of cocaine in shipping containers through Belgium’s Port of Antwerp. OFAC also sanctioned Mexican Franco Tabarez Martinez, a narcotics trafficker in Guerrero, Mexico, who works with sanctioned La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug-trafficking organization and distributes cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine to the U.S.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published twosets of previously issued general licenses in the Federal Register, including licenses under its Burma Sanctions Regulations, Syria Sanctions Regulations, Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations and Venezuela Sanctions Regulations. The full texts of the licenses are available in the notices.
Andrea Gacki is leaving her role as director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control to become the new director of the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the agency announced July 13. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Gacki helped guide OFAC through “major world events,” including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and “expertly” deployed financial sanctions, industry guidance and enforcement actions “to hold accountable those who threaten our national security and the international financial system.”
Adam Hensel-Briscoe, former official at the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, has joined Squire Patton as a principal in its Washington, D.C., government investigations and white collar practice. Joining the firm from Akin Gump, Hensel-Briscoe worked at OFAC for over 12 years, serving as assistant director of the Office of Global Targeting's Narcotics, Crime, Africa and Western Hemisphere Division. His practice will center on "international trade, economic and trade sanctions laws, export control laws and other foreign policy and national security trade and investment controls," the firm said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week deleted a range of entries from its Specially Designated Nationals List that were originally sanctioned for counter-narcotics reasons. The entries include people and entities based in Colombia. The agency didn’t release more information.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned 10 people and one company involved in illegal Mexican drug trafficking, including precursor chemicals used in fentanyl. Those designated have ties to Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel, OFAC said, and the measures follow a series of similar sanctions related to the group in recent months (see 2305090022, 2304140051 and 2301300010).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on July 11 updated the Specially Designated Nationals List entry for Andrey Nikolayevich Ivanov, a Wagner Group official who has helped the sanctioned Russian private military company in weapons deals, mining activities and more. OFAC sanctioned Ivanov in June (see 2306270056).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned Serbian official Aleksandar Vulin, who has been “implicated” in transnational organized crime, illegal drug operations and “misuse of public office.” Vulin, director of Serbia’s Security Information Agency, worked with U.S.-sanctioned Serbian arms dealer Slobodan Tesic by helping him move illegal arms shipments across the country’s border, and has also used his position to support Russia and give the country “a platform to further its influence in the region.”