The Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has today designated two companies in Hong Kong and the UAE for shipping Iranian commodities on behalf of the network of Iran-based Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force OFAC also identified four vessels as blocked property in which these companies have an interest.
“The United States continues to take action against the illicit Iranian financial networks that fund the Houthis and facilitate their attacks,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Together with our allies and partners, we will take all available measures to stop the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their threats to global commerce.”
As a result of the actions taken today regarding these entities, all property and interest in property of the designated persons and entities that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities tha are owned directly or indirectly 50% or more of these entities are also blocked.
Here is a list of the named entities and some details released by OFAC;
Houthi and IRGC-QF financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal engages in a variety of commercial activities that involve the sale of Iranian commodities to generate revenue for the Houthis and the IRGC-QF.
The vessel MEHLE (IMO: 9191711), which is owned and managed by Hong Kong (PRC)-based Cielo Maritime Ltd, has shipped Iranian commodities to China in support of Sa’id al-Jamal. The MEHLE used forged shipping documents to disguise the Iranian origin of the cargo.
Cielo Marine Ltd 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, Sa’id al-Jamal. The MEHLE is being identified as property in which Cielo Marine Ltd has an interest.
The vessel SINCERE 02 (IMO: 9226011), managed and operated by Marshall Islands-registered, United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Global Tech Marine Services Inc (Global Tech Marine Services), has similarly shipped Iranian commodities in support of Sa’id al-Jamal. The SINCERE 02 similarly sought to disguise the origin of the goods using forged documents. Sa’id al-Jamal has shipped Iranian commodities onboard the SINCERE 02 in coordination with Türkiye-based Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud, who was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021 for his support to Sa’id al-Jamal.
Global Tech Marine Services also operates the vessels MOLECULE (IMO: 9209300) and FORTUNE GALAXY (IMO: 9257010), both of which have been involved in the shipment of Iranian commodities.
Global Tech Marine Services 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, Sa’id al-Jamal. The SINCERE 02, MOLECULE, and FORTUNE GALAXY are all being identified as property in which Global Tech Marine Services has an interest.
Jeffrey Newman Esq. is an attorney whose law firm represents whistleblowers under the SEC, CFTC and FINCEN whistleblower programs. Persons providing original information to these agencies through counsel may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of a successful recovery made by the SEC, CFTC OR FINCEN and the names and identification of the whistleblowers are kept confidential. His firm also represents whistleblowers in healthcare fraud cases relating to Medicare of Medicaid. Attorney Newman can be reached at Jeff@Jeffnewmanlaw.com or at 617-823-3217
