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Economic Sanctions

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OFAC sanctions Sweden’s Foxtrot network for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and Iran-linked attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm

The gang carried out a January 2024 attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm on behalf of Iran, highlighting Tehran’s growing use of criminal proxies. The sanctions aim to disrupt the network’s operations and Iran’s destabilising influence in Europe…

UK lifts sanctions on 24 Syrian entities, including central bank and energy firms, to support Syria’s economic rebuilding

The UK government has lifted asset freezes on 24 Syrian entities, including the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines, and several energy companies, as part of efforts to help Syrians rebuild their country and economy. However, sanctions on the Assad regime and those involved in illicit captagon trade remain in place…

US Treasury slams sanctions on Chinese hacker Zhou Shuai and his company for cyber espionage—blocking assets, indicting culprits, and putting a $2m bounty on their heads

Zhou Shuai and his company, Shanghai Heiying, sanctioned for cyber espionage targeting U.S. critical infrastructure. Zhou, in collaboration with previously sanctioned hacker Yin Kecheng, sold stolen data and compromised networks, allegedly working in alignment with Chinese intelligence interests.

US Treasury hits top Houthi leaders with sanctions for arms deals, smuggling, and recruiting fighters for Russia

Sanctions target seven senior Houthi members and one Houthi-affiliated operative for smuggling military-grade weapons into Yemen, negotiating arms deals with Russia, and recruiting Yemenis to fight in Ukraine.sanctioned seven senior Houthi members and one Houthi-affiliated operative for smuggling military-grade weapons into Yemen, negotiating arms deals with Russia, and recruiting Yemenis to fight in Ukraine.

EU adopts 16th sanctions package on Russia, targeting more vessels in Putin’s shadow fleet, tightening enforcement, and imposing new trade bans

The EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, stated that the 16th sanctions package expands restrictions beyond Russia’s shadow fleet to include those enabling its operations. It targets unsafe oil tankers, banks evading EU sanctions, Russian propaganda networks, and technology like video game controllers repurposed for drone piloting…

U.S. Treasury targets Iran-based Behrouz Parsarad for running Nemesis, a now-defunct criminal marketplace that fuelled global narcotics trade

Nemesis, with over 30,000 users, enabled the sale of fentanyl and illicit services while laundering millions in virtual currency. Despite law enforcement action, Parsarad has attempted to rebuild the platform, prompting further U.S. efforts to combat darknet-fueled narcotics proliferation.

US Treasury sanctions Iranian operator of Nemesis darknet marketplace, for facilitating $30m in global drug trafficking and ML

The platform was designed with built-in money laundering features, enabling narcotics traffickers and cybercriminals to trade illicit goods and services anonymously. This action underscores the importance of enhanced due diligence and monitoring by financial institutions to prevent the exploitation of financial systems by illicit actors…

UK unleashes largest sanctions package since 2022, targeting Russia’s military supply chains and global financial networks

The UK has unveiled a historic sanctions package targeting a broad array of sectors from military suppliers in China and Turkey to North Korean officials aiding Russia’s military. In a bold move it sanctioned OJSC Keremet Bank for its role in supporting Russia’s war while escalating pressure on Russia’s energy sector by sanctioning 40 ‘shadow fleet’ tankers. The UK also targeted 14 new Kremlin-linked billionaires reinforcing its commitment to Ukraine’s…

US Treasury sanctions Rwandan minister and senior militant for fueling conflict in the DRC, destabilising eastern DR, and committing human rights abuses

These sanctions underscore U.S. efforts to disrupt Rwanda’s backing of the March 23 Movement (M23), which has exacerbated instability in eastern DRC. By targeting key figures and financial networks, the U.S. aims to pressure Rwanda and M23’s leadership while limiting their access to international markets…

 

OCCRP: Belgium freezes $270B under Russian sanctions, stranding billions in unsanctioned investors’ assets amid escalating legal battles

Belgium has locked €258B ($270B) in frozen funds under EU sanctions on Russia, but a vast majority belongs to unsanctioned investors, fueling legal challenges. JPMorgan’s failed attempt to unfreeze $2.4B highlights the growing crisis, as Belgium’s Treasury struggles with over 800 unresolved cases. With Euroclear at the center of the controversy, uncertainty looms over EU efforts to repurpose these funds for Ukraine’s reconstruction, while legal experts warn of potential billion-dollar compensation claims…

UK Govt urges European partners to adopt its pioneering sanctions regime aimed at targeting organised immigration crime gangs and their networks

Foreign Secretary urges international action on one of the defining security threats of our time – irregular migration. Partners pressed to replicate UK’s world-first plans for sanctions targeting people smugglers. £8m additional funding will short-circuit people smugglers’ business model, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change and commitment to protect UK borders…

OFSI updates General licence INT/2024/4423849 to add CN/HS commodity code 2710 1944 under “premium to crude” and its guidance on the UK Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap exception

This price cap exception permits the supply or delivery of Russian oil and oil products by ship, as well as provision of associated services, only where they have been purchased or sold at or below a corresponding set price, or ‘cap’ for that oil or oil product, excluding the UK…

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