| April 2008 |
OFAC Again Targets Network of Colombian Drug Trafficker – On April 15, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added nine individuals and fifteen companies to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers. These OFAC designations target two long-time associates of Carlos Alberto Renteria Mantilla – Carlos Currea Correa (a.k.a. "Cucu") and Ramiro Rengifo Puentes (a.k.a. "William Torrijos"). Carlos Alberto Renteria Mantilla ("Beto Renteria") is the only remaining leader of Colombia's North Valle drug cartel, and the U.S. Department of State is offering up to $5 million for information leading to his capture. |
| February 2008 |
Treasury Designates Members of Abu Ghadiyah’s Network – On February 28, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated four individuals facilitating and controlling the flow of money, weapons, terrorists, and other resources through Syria to al Qaida in Iraq (AQI), including to AQI commanders. This action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing financial or material support to terrorism. |
| January 2008 |
Treasury Expands Sanctions on Zimbabwean Companies and Individuals - On January 30, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against two Zimbabwean entities and two individuals that contribute to the undermining of democratic processes and institutions in Zimbabwe. |
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OFAC Lifts Designation of Six Colombian Companies - On January 17, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the removal of six Colombian companies from its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers. Following their designation, the Colombian Government forfeited the ownership interests held by narcotics traffickers and their family members in each of these companies, paving the way for their delisting. |
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Treasury Designates Individuals, Entity Fueling Iraqi Insurgency - On January 9, Treasury designated four individuals and one entity under Executive Order 13438 for threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and the Government of Iraq. The individuals and entity designated today commit, direct, support, or pose a significant risk of committing acts of violence against Iraqi citizens, Iraqi government officials, and Coalition Forces. |
| December 2007 |
Treasury Designates Financial Empire of Key Mexican Money Launderer - On December 12, Treasury designated Mexican money launderer Blanca Margarita Cazares Salazar (Blanca Cazares), as well as the 19 companies and 22 individuals in Mexico that are part of her financial network, as specially designated narcotics traffickers subject to economic sanctions pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. |
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Treasury Designates Individuals with Ties to Al Qaida, Former Regime - On December 6, the Treasury Department designated seven individuals with ties to the Iraqi insurgency and the former Iraqi regime. One individual was designated for providing financial and material support to Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and the six other individuals were designated as senior officials of the former Iraqi regime or their immediate family members, some of whom provided financial and material support to Iraq insurgents. |
| November 2007 |
Treasury Targets Charity Covertly Supporting Violence in Sri Lanka - On November 15, the U.S. Department of the Treasury targeted the support network of the designated terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) by designating a charitable organization that acts as a front to facilitate fundraising and procurement for the LTTE. |
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Treasury Targets Lukashenko-controlled Petrochemical Conglomerate - The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Belarus' largest petrochemical conglomerate on November 13, under Executive Order 13405 as being controlled by oppressive Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. |
| October 2007 |
Fact Sheet: Designation of Iranian Entities and Individuals for Proliferation Activities and Support for Terrorism. On October 25, 2007, the U.S. Government took several major actions to counter Iran's bid for nuclear capabilities and support for terrorism by exposing Iranian banks, companies and individuals that have been involved in these dangerous activities and by cutting them off from the U.S. financial system. |
| October 2007 |
Treasury Targets Financial Empire of Colombian Trafficker. On October 10, 2007, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers seven individuals and 14 companies tied to Colombian narcotics trafficker Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia (a.k.a. Chupeta). Among those designated today are key financial associates of Ramirez Abadia, including Diego and Tulio Alzate Jimenez, and a Colombian currency exchange and money remittance company (casa de cambio). |
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Treasury Designates Three Key Terrorist Financiers. On October 10, 2007, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) three individuals based in Saudi Arabia who have served as significant sources of financial and other support to individuals and entities in Southeast Asia previously named as SDGTs and listed pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1267. |
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Treasury Continues to Pressure Burma's Regime. The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated 11 additional senior Burmese Government officials, cutting them off from the U.S. financial system. Treasury's action follows President George W. Bush's announcement today of additional measures increasing U.S. sanctions against the military regime in Burma. |
| May 2007 |
2007 National Money Laundering Strategy Released. On May 3, 2007, the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Justice, and Homeland Security joined together in issuing the 2007 National Money Laundering Strategy, a report detailing continued efforts to dismantle money laundering and terrorist financing networks and bring these criminals to justice. |
| April 2007 |
Statement on DPRK-Related Funds Frozen at BDA. The United States understands that the Macau authorities are prepared to unblock all North Korean-related accounts currently frozen in Banco Delta Asia. |
| March 2007 |
Glaser Leads Treasury Delegation to China. On March 24th, Daniel Glaser, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, leads a Treasury delegation to Beijing, China to offer assistance to the Macanese and Chinese in addressing the issue of North Korean-related funds frozen at Banco Delta Asia (BDA). |
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Treasury Finalizes Rule Against Banco Delta
Asia
BDA Cut Off From U.S. Financial System. On March 14th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury finalized its rule against Banco Delta Asia SARL (BDA) under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act. When the final rule takes effect in 30 days, U.S. financial institutions will be prohibited from opening or maintaining correspondent accounts for or on behalf of BDA. This action bars BDA from accessing the U.S. financial system, either directly or indirectly. |
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Treasury Designates Two U.S. Companies Acting as Fronts for Colombia’s North Valle Drug Cartel. On March 7th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added two U.S. companies to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) for their ties to Colombia's North Valle drug cartel |
| February 2007 |
Treasury Designates Hizballah’s Construction Arm. On February 20, 2007, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Jihad al-Bina, a Lebanon-based construction company formed and operated by Hizballah. Jihad al-Bina receives direct funding from Iran, is run by Hizballah members, and is overseen by Hizballah's Shura Council, at the head of which sits Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. |
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Treasury Targets Iranian Companies for Supporting WMD Proliferation. On February 16, 2007, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated three Iranian companies supporting Iran’s proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Kalaye Electric Company, Kavoshyar Company, and Pioneer Energy Industries Company. This action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which is aimed at exposing and financially isolating proliferators of WMD and their supporters. |
| January 2007 |
Treasury Targets Al Qaida Facilitators in South Africa. On January 26, 2007, the U.S. Department of the Treasury moved to designate two South African individuals, Farhad Ahmed Dockrat and Junaid Ismail Dockrat, and a related entity for financing and facilitating al Qaida, pursuant to Executive Order 13224. This action freezes any assets the designees have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits transactions between U.S. persons and the designees. |
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Iran’s Bank Sepah Designated by Treasury Sepah Facilitating Iran’s Weapons Program. On January 9, 2007 the Department of the Treasury designated Bank Sepah, a state-owned Iranian financial institution for providing support and services to designated Iranian proliferation firms. Bank Sepah International Plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank Sepah in the United Kingdom, and Ahmad Derakhshandeh, Bank Sepah's Chairman and Director, were also designated today. |
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Three Entities Targeted by Treasury for Supporting Syria’s WMD Proliferation. On January 4, 2007, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated three Syrian entities, the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology (HIAST), the Electronics Institute, and the National Standards and Calibration Laboratory (NSCL), pursuant to Executive Order 13382, an authority aimed at freezing the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters. |
December
2006 |
Treasury Targets Hizballah Fundraising Network in the Triple Frontier of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. On December 6th the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated nine individuals and two entities that have provided financial and logistical support to the Hizballah terrorist organization. The designees are located in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay and have provided financial and other services for Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) Assad Ahmad Barakat, who was previously designated in June 2004 for his support to Hizballah leadership. |
November
2006 |
Treasury Targets Drug Cartel Assets in Colombia and
Offshore Havens. On November 28th the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added five
Colombian individuals and twenty-two entities to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) for their ties to the North Valle drug cartel. |
October
2006 |
Treasury Acts Against Narco Leader’s Front Companies, Cohorts. On October 31st the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated seven individuals and ten entities associated with North Valle drug cartel leader Carlos Alberto Renteria Mantilla (Beto Renteria). This designation is the fifth designation targeting Beto Renteria's financial network. |
September
2006 |
Treasury Updates Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Charitable Sector. On September 29th, The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued updated Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-based Charities (Guidelines), taking into consideration the comments and suggestions provided by the public to assist the charitable community in efforts to safeguard itself from the threat of abuse and exploitation by terrorist organizations. |
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Treasury Exposes Fronts for the Arellano Felix Drug Kingpin Organization. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today identified five companies and six individuals that have acted as fronts for Manuel Aguirre Galindo, a key leader of the Arellano Felix Organization (AFO). On June 1, 2004, the President named the AFO as a drug kingpin pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act ("Kingpin Act"). |
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Treasury Designation Targets Nine Leaders and Key Figures of the FARC. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated nine leaders and key figures of the Colombian narco-terrorist organization, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia or FARC). |
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Treasury Cuts Iran's Bank Saderat Off From U.S. Financial System. Levey: "It is remarkable that Iran has a nine-digit line item in its budget to support terrorism." In a move to counter Iran's support for terrorism, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced that Iran's Bank Saderat is being cut off from all access to the U.S. financial system, direct or indirect. |
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Treasury Designation Targets Hizballah’s Bank.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated two financial companies and one individual that provide financial support to the Iran-funded Hizballah terrorist network. |
August
2006 |
Treasury Designation Targets Elusive North Valle Cartel Leader.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today added to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers four individuals and two companies tied to Juan Carlos Ramirez Abadia, a leader of Colombia's North Valle drug cartel. |
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Treasury Designates Key Hizballah Fundraising Organization. The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated the Islamic Resistance Support Organization (IRSO), a key Hizballah fundraising organization. |
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Treasury Designates Two Syrian Officials. The U.S. Department of the Treasury today named two individuals Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) of Syria pursuant to Executive Order 13338, which is aimed at financially isolating individuals and entities that are directly or significantly contributing to Syria's support for designated terrorist groups, or its military or security presence in Lebanon, or that are acting for or on behalf of other SDNs of Syria. |
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Treasury Designates Director, Branches of Charity Bankrolling Al Qaida Network. The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated the Philippine and Indonesian branch offices of the Saudi-based International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) for facilitating fundraising for al Qaida and affiliated terrorist groups. Treasury additionally designated Abd Al Hamid Sulaiman Al-Mujil, the Executive Director of the Eastern Province Branch of IIRO in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. |
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Adam Szubin Named New OFAC Director. U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson has named Adam Szubin as the new Director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). |
July
2006 |
Treasury Identifies Money Laundering Cell of the Arellano Felix Organization. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today identified 34 companies and individuals associated with two Mexican drug cartels, the Arellano Felix Organization and the Arriola Marquez Organization, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). Both the Arellano Felix Organization (AFO) and Arriola Marquez Organization (AMO) were previously named by the President as Mexican drug kingpins under the Kingpin Act. |
June
2006 |
Treasury Announces Private Sector Initiative with Latin American Counterparts Initiative Will Focus on Strengthening Defenses Against Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing. The U.S. Department of the Treasury Thursday helped launch a U.S.-Latin America Private Sector Dialogue (US-LA PSD) focused on strengthening defenses against money laundering and terrorist financing. |
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Treasury Identifies International Financial Network of Colombia’s Notorious North Valle Drug Cartel. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today added five individuals and twenty companies tied to Colombia's North Valle drug cartel to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs). The five individuals act as front persons for North Valle cartel leaders Raul Alberto Grajales Lemos (Raul Grajales) and Carlos Alberto Renteria Mantilla (Beto Renteria). Both Raul Grajales and Beto Renteria have been indicted in the U.S. on charges relating to narcotics trafficking. |
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Treasury Designates U.S. and Chinese Companies Supporting Iranian Missile Proliferation. The Department of the Treasury today designated four Chinese companies and one U.S. company pursuant to Executive Order 13382, an authority aimed at financially isolating proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, their supporters, and those contributing to the development of missiles capable of delivering WMD. |
April
2006 |
On April 26th, the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Marks Two-Year Anniversary. Secretary John W. Snow this week hailed the two year anniversary of the Treasury's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI), which was established on April 28, 2004. |
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On April 13th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated four top leaders of the al Qaida-linked Southeast Asian terrorist organization that calls itself “Jemaah Islamiyah” (JI). The action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which is aimed at prohibiting transactions with terrorists and their supporters and freezing their assets. |
| March 2006 |
On March 30th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury added a Swiss company and individual to its list of designees supporting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Kohas AG and Jakob Steiger were designated pursuant to Executive Order 13382, an authority aimed at freezing the assets of WMD proliferators and their supporters. |
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On March 23rd, The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224 al Manar, a satellite television operation owned or controlled by the Iran-funded Hizballah terrorist network. Additionally designated were al Nour Radio and the Lebanese Media Group, the parent company to both al Manar and al Nour Radio. |
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On March 9th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury finalized its proposed rule against the Commercial Bank of Syria (CBS), along with its subsidiary, the Syrian Lebanese Commercial Bank, requiring U.S. financial institutions to terminate all correspondent accounts involving CBS. The Commercial Bank of Syria is owned and controlled by the Syrian government, a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism since 1979. The Bank has been used by terrorists to move funds and has acted as a conduit for the laundering of proceeds generated from the illicit sale of Iraqi oil. |
| February 2006 |
On
February 19th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury blocked
pending investigation accounts of KindHearts, an NGO operating
out of Toledo, Ohio, to ensure the preservation of its assets
pending further investigation. “KindHearts is
the progeny of Holy Land Foundation and Global Relief Foundation,
which attempted to mask their support for terrorism behind
the façade of charitable giving,” said Stuart
Levey, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence. “By utilizing this specialized designation
tool, we’re able to prevent asset flight in support of
terrorist activities while we further investigate the activities
of KindHearts.” |
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On
February 8th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated
five individuals and four entities for their role in financing
the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), an al Qaida affiliate
known for engaging in terrorist activity in Libya and cooperating
with al Qaida worldwide. "The Libyan Islamic
Fighting Group threatens global safety and stability through
the use of violence and its ideological alliance with al Qaida
and other brutal terrorist organizations," said Patrick O’Brien,
the Treasury’s Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing
and Financial Crime. |
| January 2006 |
On
January 11th, the Treasury Department and its partner agencies
announced the release of the U.S. Money Laundering Threat
Assessment (MLTA). The MLTA is the first government-wide
analysis of money laundering trends and vulnerabilities in
the United States. Its purpose is to inform the law enforcement
community, policy makers, and regulators in their efforts
to combat money laundering strategically.
|
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On
January 4th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated
two Iranian entities, Novin Energy Company and Mesbah
Energy Company, for their support of the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The
designation and accompanying asset freeze is administered
by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "Identifying
and designating supporters of WMD proliferation disrupts
the networks that are vital to illicit weapons programs,"
said Stuart Levey, Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism
and Financial Intelligence (TFI). "We will continue
to expose and isolate the individuals and entities that
facilitate these networks." |
| November 2005 |
On
November 30th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added two individuals
and three companies tied to the North Valle drug cartel
to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers
(SDNTs). The two individuals, both Colombian,
act as front persons for North Valle leaders Raul Grajales
Lemos and Carlos Alberto Renteria Mantilla (a.k.a. Beto
Renteria). Both Raul Grajales Lemos and Beto Renteria
have been indicted in the United States on charges relating
to narcotics trafficking. |
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On
November 30th, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated
three individuals for their senior leadership roles in
the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), a notoriously violent separatist
group operating in the Southern Philippines. The
individuals have supported and/or committed terrorist
attacks on behalf of the ASG. "The Abu Sayyaf Group
instills terror throughout Southeast Asia through kidnappings,
bombings and brutal killings. This action financially
isolates senior members of the ASG, who have planned and
carried out vicious attacks on Americans, Filipinos and
innocent citizens from around the world," said Patrick
O’Brien, the Treasury’s Assistant Secretary
for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crime. |
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On
November 9th, The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) named Colombian
Wilber Varela, a.k.a. "Jabon," as a principal Specially
Designated Narcotics Trafficker (SDNT) of the North Valle
drug cartel. |
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On
November 3rd, The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified 11
individuals and 16 companies that are part of the financial
and commercial network of designated significant foreign
narcotics trafficker Wei Hsueh-kang and the United Wa
State Army (UWSA). |
| October 2005 |
On October
21, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated eight
North Korean entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382,
an authority aimed at freezing the assets of proliferators
of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery
vehicles.
On
October 3rd, the Treasury Department designated seven
Egyptian individuals pursuant to Executive Order 13224
for acting for and on behalf of Egyptian Islamic Jihad
(EIJ), a terrorist group that merged with al Qaida in
2001. |
| September 2005 |
On
September 19th, theTreasury Department designated Dr.
Abdul Latif Saleh pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for
providing support to Usama bin Laden and al Qaida. |
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On
September 15th, the Treasury Department designated Banco
Delta Asia SARL as a "primary money laundering concern"
under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act because it represents
an unacceptable risk of money laundering and other financial
crimes. |
| August 2005 |
The
war on terrorist financing must be stepped up.
Op-ed by Under Secretary Stuart Levey in the Financial
Times. |
| |
Treasury
Designates Three Individuals Linked to Al Qaida Terror
Cell in Italy: On August 1st, the Treasury Department
designated three individuals residing in Italy pursuant
to Executive Order 13224 for providing financial and/or
material support to the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group,
a group tied to al Qaida
"Today’s action targets individuals operating an al
Qaida-linked terrorist cell in Italy that recruited
combatants, raised funds for terrorist activities and
even planned terrorist attacks," said Stuart Levey,
the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence (TFI). "We will continue to stand with
Italy and our other allies around the world to attack
the financing of terrorism." |
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Treasury
Hails Passage of UN Resolution Tightening Sanctions
Against the Taliban, UBL and Al Qaida: On August
1st, the Treasury Department praised the passage of
a UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) further tightening
global sanctions against the Taliban, al Qaida and Usama
bin Laden.
"The strengthened resolution is vital to further impede
– both financially and logistically – Usama bin Laden
and his followers," said Stuart Levey, Treasury’s Under
Secretary for the Office of Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence (TFI). |
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Treasury
Designates Twenty-Six Entities Tied to the Mugabe Regime:
On August 3rd, the Treasury Department designated twenty-six
Zimbabwean entities – 24 commercial farms and two businesses
– controlled by key members of the Mugabe regime. This
designation is pursuant to Executive Order 13288, which
is aimed at blocking the property of persons undermining
democratic processes in Zimbabwe.
"The Mugabe regime rules through politically motivated
violence and intimidation and has triggered the collapse
of the rule of law in Zimbabwe," said Robert Werner,
Director of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC). "By denying the Mugabe regime access
to the U.S. financial system and U.S. persons, we’re
cutting off the flow of support they could use to further
destabilize Zimbabwe." |
| July 2005 |
TFI
Releases New Information on Protecting Charities from
Terrorist Abuse: On July 11, TFI released
a new document on charities designated under Executive
Order 13224 and Executive Order 12947 and foreign terrorist
organizations appearing as potential fundraising front
organizations. Please click on the Protecting
Charitable Organizations link (also below) to view
this document and other related content. |
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Treasury
Designates Saddam Hussein’s Nephews: On July 21st,
the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated six sons
of Saddam Hussein’s half brother and former presidential
advisor, Sabawi Ibrahim Hasan Al-Tikriti. This designation
is part of an ongoing effort by the Treasury, U.S. Central
Command and our partners in the U.S. Government to halt
the flow of money and resources to anti-Coalition forces.
"This action targets the money flows of former regime
elements actively supporting attacks against Coalition
forces and the Iraqi people," said Stuart Levey,
the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and
Financial Intelligence (TFI). |
| July 2005 |
Treasury
Designates MIRA for Support to Al Qaida: On July 14th,
the U.S Department of the Treasury designated the Movement
for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), a U.K.-based Saudi
oppositionist organization, for providing material support
to al Qaida. MIRA is run by al Qaida-affiliated Saad al-Faqih,
who was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 by the Treasury
on December 21, 2004 and is named on the United Nations
1267 Committee consolidated list of terrorists tied to
al Qaida, UBL and the Taliban.
"Al-Faqih uses MIRA to facilitate al Qaida's
operations," said Stuart Levey, the Treasury's
Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
(TFI). "Designating MIRA will help stem the flow
of funds to the organization and put the world on notice
of its support for al Qaida." |
| June 2005 |
Treasury
Designation Targets Individuals Leading Syria’s
Military Presence in Lebanon: The Department of the
Treasury has named Ghazi Kanaan and Rustum Ghazali Specially
Designated Nationals (SDNs) of Syria pursuant to Executive
Order 13338, which is aimed at financially isolating individuals
and entities contributing to the Government of Syria’s
problematic behavior. “Actions like today’s
are intended to financially isolate bad actors supporting
Syria’s efforts to destabilize its neighbors,”said
Treasury Secretary John W. Snow. |
| June 2005 |
Statement
of Secretary Snow on WMD Proliferation Financing Executive
Order: President Bush has signed an Executive Order
to combat trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
and related materials by cutting off financing and other
support for proliferation networks. |
| June 2005 |
Muhammad
Yunis Ahmad was designated on June 17th pursuant to Executive
Order 13315, which is aimed at blocking property of the
former Iraqi regime, its senior officials and their family
members and those who act for or on their behalf.
According to information available to the U.S. Government,
Ahmad is currently a financial facilitator and operational
leader of the New Regional Command of the reconstituted
Ba'ath Party. He is instrumental in providing guidance,
financial support and coordination of insurgent attacks
throughout Iraq. “Ahmad was a party to the violence
and oppression of the former Hussein regime,” said
Stuart Levey, Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism
and Financial Intelligence (TFI). “He still seeks
to sabotage the hopes of the Iraqi people by supporting
the insurgents’ brutal attacks against coalition
forces and Iraqis alike. Designations like today’s
help cut off the money supporting those efforts.” |
| June 2005 |
On
June 9th, The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced
the designation of a Syrian-based company and two senior
officials that acted on behalf of Saddam Hussein's fallen
regime. SES International Corp., based in Damascus,
General Zuhayr Shalish and Asif Shalish were designated
pursuant to Executive Order 13315, which is aimed at blocking
property of the former Iraqi regime, its senior officials
and their family members and those who act for or on their
behalf. |
| May 2005 |
On
May 12th, The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated
three individuals for their role in Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI), a terrorist group in Southeast Asia with links
to al Qaida. Abu Rusdan, Zulkarnaen and Joko Pitono
were designated under Executive Order 13224, President
Bush’s Order aimed at freezing the assets of terrorists
and their support networks.
“JI, as a terrorist franchise of al Qaida, has
demonstrated its wanton desire to kill innocent civilians
of every race, religion and creed and continues to pose
a real threat to security in Southeast Asia. We will
continue to work with our colleagues in the region and
the international community to identify and isolate
key members of JI, like those we have designated today,”
said Juan Zarate, Treasury’s Assistant Secretary
for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes. |
| May 2005 |
On
May 11th, The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added 32 companies
and 31 individuals to its list of Specially Designated
Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs). The companies named
form the Grajales business group, known in Colombia
as Grupo Grajales. Also designated was the head of Grupo
Grajales, Raul Alberto Grajales Lemos.
“Today’s designation dealt another serious
blow to the financial network of the North Valle cartel,”
said Robert Werner, Director of OFAC. “By breaking
the financial backbone of groups like North Valle, we
help thwart the ability of cartels to traffic lethal
narcotics in the United States and abroad.” |
| May 2005 |
On
May 4th, The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated
the Elehssan Society, including all its branches, as a
charitable front for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
A deadly Palestinian terrorist group, PIJ has been named
a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially
Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Government
and is also named on the European Union’s list of
terrorist entities. “Elehssan masquerades as a charity,
while actually helping to finance Palestinian Islamic
Jihad’s acts of terror against the Israeli people
and other innocents,” said Stuart Levey, the Treasury’s
Under Secretary for the Office of Terrorism and Financial
Intelligence (TFI). “We will not hesitate to act
against those who enable murderers, regardless of how
they disguise themselves. |
| April 2005 |
Treasury
Designates Viktor Bout's International Arms Trafficking
Network
The Treasury Department identified 30 companies and four
individuals linked to Viktor Bout, an international arms
dealer and war profiteer. The action took place pursuant
to Executive Order 13348, which targets family members
and associates of former Liberian President Charles Ghankay
Taylor. Bout himself was designated under the same authority
in July 2004 because of his association with Taylor. “Our
targeted sanctions are exposing and isolating the core
elements of the Bout financial empire and illicit arms
pipeline,” said Juan Zarate, the Treasury's Assistant
Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes.
“The Treasury remains committed to fulfilling our international
obligations to sanction the former Charles Taylor regime
by taking aggressive action against Bout front companies
and agents.” |
| April 2005 |
The U.S. Department of the Treasury utilized USA PATRIOT
Act powers to designate two Latvian financial institutions
as “primary money laundering concerns.”
Multibanka and VEF Bank were named pursuant to Section
311 of the Act for money laundering activities and financial
abuse by account holders and owners. “These two
Latvian banks represent a danger to the international
community because they facilitate the placement and
movement of dirty money in the global financial system,”
said Daniel Glaser, the Treasury’s Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes.
“We will continue to work closely with the Latvian
government to crack down on crimes in their financial
sector.” |
| March 2005 |
The U.S. Department of the Treasury identified four
companies associated with Jamaican national, Leebert
Ramcharan, who was named by President Bush as a drug
kingpin on June 1, 2004. The companies were added to
the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control’s
(OFAC) list of persons designated pursuant to the Foreign
Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). Jamaica
is the leading transit country for South American cocaine.
Treasury’s action prohibits all financial and
commercial transactions between the designated entities
and any U.S. person and freezes any assets found in
the United States.
|
| February 2005 |
The U.S. Department of the Treasury took
action against Muhsin al-Fadhli, whose efforts were helping
to finance the Iraqi insurgency, as well as al Qaida.
Muhsin al-Fadhli was designated under Executive Order
13224 for providing financial and material support to
the al-Zarqawi Network and al Qaida. The designation
of al-Fadhli is another important step in breaking the
financial ties the al-Zarqawi Network depends on to perpetrate
acts of horror and violence against people of all faiths
and nationalities. Please
see reference to the al-Fadhli designation in a recent
speech by President Bush. |
| January 2005 |
The U.S. Department of the Treasury took
action against an individual named Sulayman Khalid Darwish,
who is located in Syria. Darwish was designated under
Executive Order 13224 for providing financial and material
support to the al-Zarqawi Network and al Qaida. |
December
2004 |
Freezing the assets of Adel Abdul Jalil Batterjee,
Executive Director of the Benevolence International
Foundation (BIF) and Saad Rashed Mohammed al-Faqih,
head of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA),
for providing material and financial support to al Qaeda
and Usama bin Laden
Overall, $147 million in terrorist-related funds have
been frozen internationally, from 397 individuals and
entities |
|
|
December
2004 |
Freezing the assets of seven businesses and 16 individuals
who were serving as fronts for the Cali drug cartel.
Overall, TFI has identified 1,147 parties as Specially
Designated Narcotics Traffickers, consisting of 16 Colombian
drug cartel leaders, 424 businesses and 707 other individuals. |
|
|
| October 2004 |
Implementing, through the Financial Action
Task Force (FATF), international measures to target cross-border
cash smuggling. |
