Monthly Archives: May 2024

The US hits Hizballah finances

Posted on by

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on five individuals who helped to Hizballah money exchanger Hassan Moukalled and his company, CTEX Exchange to evade sanctions.

The following individuals were added to OFAC’s SDN List:

  • AL-ZEIN, Mazen Hassan (Arabic: مازن حسان الزين). He is a UAE-based business consultant for Moukalled. Additional information: Burj Daman Tower, Apartment 3406, Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai 99573, United Arab Emirates; Al Mustaqbal Street, Iris Bay Building, Apt. No. 2304, Business Bay, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 51 Route des Vallees, Bis 3, Annemasse 74100, France; 46 Rue des Fontaines, Anthy Sur Leman 74200, France; DOB 21 Jun 1974; POB Beirut, Lebanon; nationality Lebanon; Gender Male; National ID No. 784197494718279 (Lebanon); Identification Number 178295160001 (United Kingdom).
  • MANSUR, Bashir Ibrahim (Arabic: بشير ابراهيم منصور). He is a minority shareholder in CTEX Exchange. Additional information: Baabda, Lebanon; Borj El Brajneh, Lebanon; DOB 09 Feb 1980; POB Lebanon; nationality Lebanon; Gender Male.
  • MOUKALLED, Firas Hasan (Arabic: فراس حسن مقلد). Additional info: Lebanon; DOB 09 Oct 1990; POB Lebanon; nationality Lebanon; Gender Male.
  • MUSHANTAF, Andriyah Samir (Arabic: اندريه سمير مشنتف). He is a minority shareholder in CTEX Exchange. Additional information: Lebanon; DOB 11 Mar 1966; POB Lebanon; nationality Lebanon; Gender Male; National ID No. 1694100 (Lebanon).
  • YOUSSEF, Adnan Mahmoud. He is an employee of CTEX Exchange and has, as of mid-2023, sought investors to set up companies in the UAE on behalf of Moukalled in circumvention of the sanctions imposed on Moukalled in early 2023 by the government of the UAE. Additional information: Haret Hreik, Beirut, Lebanon; DOB 06 Jun 1956; POB Beirut, Lebanon; nationality Lebanon; Gender Male.

The U.S. has sanctioned over 240 entities and individuals linked to Russia’s military-industrial complex

Posted on by

The United States Department of the Treasury impose sanctions on these entities, individuals and vessels in order to block Russia’s weapons programs, including chemical and biological weapons.

The sanctions affected not only companies in Russia, but also 60 other entities located in Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates that helped Russia acquire technology and equipment from abroad.

According to Sanctions Lists, 29 individuals, 253 companies, and 16 vessels were included on the sanctions list.

Among them are:

  • LLC Aviakompaniya Pobeda, the first low-cost airline in Russia with 42 modern Boeing 737-800 aircraft in its fleet.
  • Companies from the Sibanthracite Group. This is a coal mining company that produces and exports ultra-high-grade anthracite and metallurgical coal. The coal production amounted to 24.55 million tonnes in 2022.
  • Hong Kong-based Founder Technology Limited which exported 293 shipments of electronic integrated circuits between January 3, 2023 and December 29, 2023, including electronic integrated circuits to UAV.
  • Russian All-Terrain Vehicles Plastun is a manufacturer of powerful, practical, and functional tracked vehicles. One of their models was presented to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
  • Public Joint Stock Company Kremny supplied microelectronics to Russian military customers and has worked with American companies Elfor TL and Fotonik Klaud, which are designated by the United States.

Poland imposes sanctions on two companies that may be linked to Russia

Posted on by

The Ministry of the Interior and Administration of Poland added two companies to its sanctions list: Domtora sp. z o.o. (02-536 Warszawa, ul. Ludwika Narbutta 25A) and VAN 7 sp. z o.o. (41-407 Imielin, ul. Imielińska 20).

According to the Ministry’s statement, Domtora is engaged in supplying agricultural machinery, including Russian company Agro-Region, based in Moscow. Agro-Region was founded in 2016 by Igor Chaika, son of Russian Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika. Currently, Ivan Zavorotny is the only owner of Agro-Region.

VAN 7 was included in the sanction list based on the analysis of its trade with third countries, which may indicate deliberate economic activity to circumvent EU bans through intermediaries in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Some goods were sold through an “illogical route” through border crossings in the Baltic States, indicating attempts to supply them to the Russian Federation.

Corruption in Uganda leads to new U.K. sanctions

Posted on by

The UK government used for the first time the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions regime on individuals involved in corruption in Uganda.

The three individuals have been sanctioned:

  • Mary Goretti Kitutu, who was the Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2021 and 2024.
  • Agnes Nandutu, who was the State Minister for Karamoja Affairs between 2021 and 2024.
  • Anita Annet Among, who has been the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda since 2022.

Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu stole thousands of iron sheets used for roofing and infrastructure from a Ugandan government-funded project aimed at housing some of the most vulnerable communities. Anita Annet Among, benefited from the proceeds.

“Today the UK is sending a clear message to those who think benefiting at the expense of others is acceptable. Corruption has consequences and you will be held responsible.”

Deputy Foreign Secretary, Andrew Mitchell

The U.S. has blocked unlawful exports of dual-use electronics to Russian military drones

Posted on by

The Department of Justice announced that it has blocked the unlawful export of dual-purpose electronics used in Russian military drone operations.

According to a release from the department, Nikolay Grigorev, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States by participating in an illegal export control scheme involving the shipment of electronic components from the U.S to companies affiliated with Russia’s military.

Grigorev and his partners, Nikita Arkhipov and Artem Oloviannikov, used a Brooklyn-based company, Quality Life Cue LLC (QLC), to facilitate this illegal activity.

Between October 22nd, 2021 and February 22rd, 2nd 20th 20, QLC received wires worth approximately $272,000 from a St. Petersburg, Russia-based company called SMT-Ilogic. These funds were then used to purchase dual-use electronic components.

In June 2023, a court authorized search warrant of Grigorev’s residence resulted in the successful seizure of over 11,500 electronic components that were awaiting export to Russia.

Presently, Grigorev faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.