On December 8, 2011, the Office of Foreign Assets Control removed eight Colombian persons (2 entities and 6 individuals) from its Anti-Narcotics Specially Designated Nationals list. SDNs are (i) individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries or (ii) individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. The assets of listed SDNs are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has released a new online application called, "SDN Search." This application provides an online interface to search the SDN list across several criteria. The results are viewable on-screen, are printable, and can be saved as a spreadsheet.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a final rule, effective December 8, 2011, that amends the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations by issuing two general licenses that authorize all activities and transactions relating to the petroleum and petrochemical industries in the Republic of South Sudan and related financial transactions and the transshipment of goods, technology, and services through Sudan to or from the Republic of South Sudan and related financial transactions.
On December 1, 2011, the Office of Foreign Assets Control added two entities and two individuals to its "Specially Designated Nationals" List. SDNs are (i) individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries or (ii) individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. The assets of listed SDNs are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
On November 30, 2011, the Office of Foreign Assets Control added Ntabo Ntaberi Sheka (individual) [DRCONGO] to its "Specially Designated Nationals" list. SDNs are (i) individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries or (ii) individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. The assets of listed SDNs are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
On December 1, 2011, the Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License (GL) No. 10, which unblocks all property and interests in property of Arab Turkish Bank and North African International Bank, subject to a requirement to report to OFAC on the release of any blocked funds, including cash, securities, bank accounts, and investment accounts.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has released new civil penalty information regarding Commerzbank AG. According to OFAC, Commerzbank AG, New York Branch, NY, NY, has agreed to remit $175,500 to settle apparent 2005 violations of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations in connection with certain trade documents associated with a letter of credit, in which a Cuban Specially Designated National (SDN) had an interest.
On November 22, 2011, the Office of Foreign Assets Control added one Saudi individual and removed two Lebanese individuals from its "Specially Designated Nationals" List. SDNs are (i) individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries or (ii) individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. The assets of listed SDNs are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control announces the designation of six shipping companies affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which prohibits transactions with and freezes the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters. OFAC has designated Panama/Iran-based companies Galliot Maritime Inc., Indus Maritime Inc., Kaveri Maritime Inc., Melodious Maritime, Inc., Mount Everest Maritime, Inc., and Rishi Maritime, Inc. In a second notice, OFAC is adding one vessel, Iran Shahr-E-Kord, and updating the information for 14 other vessels. In a third notice, OFAC is updating the information for Soroush Sarzamin Asatir Ship Management Company. The actions in all three notices are effective October 27, 2011.
On November 21, 2011, the Office of Foreign Assets Control added ten entities and one individual to its "Specially Designated Nationals" List. SDNs are (i) individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries or (ii) individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. The assets of listed SDNs are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.