The Office of Foreign Assets Control on April 6 sanctioned three people and two entities for their association with the sanctioned Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). The designations target Carlos Andres Rivera Varela and Francisco Javier Gudino Haro, two CJNG members who have helped carry out assassinations for the Mexican drug cartel. OFAC also sanctioned travel agent Alejandro Chacon Miranda, who helps book travel for senior CJNG members, and his company Dale Tours. Also sanctioned was Gudio Haro’s company Agricola Costa Alegre S.P.R. de R.L., an agricultural company.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control mistakenly sanctioned a restaurant owner in Italy, his company and an Italian graphic design company before deleting the designations last week (see 2103310018), Reuters reported April 1. The designations, issued during the final days of the Trump administration (see 2101190017), targeted Alessandro Bazzoni, the owner of a pizzeria in Italy, according to the report. The sanctions were intended to target a different Alessandro Bazzoni, whom the administration said was involved in a sanctions evasions network operating in Venezuela. The Italy-based Bazzoni told Reuters the designations were a “mistake.” OFAC didn’t comment.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued guidance April 5 clarifying that it generally won’t pursue sanctions against humanitarian-related transactions or exports to Syria as long as the items wouldn’t normally require an OFAC license. The guidance was issued about a week after the U.S. committed to providing more humanitarian aid to respond to the Syria crisis.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on April 5 removed three entries from its Specially Designated Nationals List following the U.S.’s decision to rescind its sanctions regime targeting the International Criminal Court. President Joe Biden revoked a Trump-era executive order last week that had authorized the sanctions, which the State Department called “inappropriate and ineffective” (see 2104020046).
President Joe Biden revoked an executive order that authorized sanctions against the International Criminal Court (see 2006110028), reversing a Trump administration decision that sparked strong opposition from allies and human rights advocates (see 2011030007 and 2010020030). The move lifted sanctions against ICC prosecutors and officials (see 2009020049), the State Department said April 2, adding that the measures were “inappropriate and ineffective.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a cautionary letter but did not fine Asana, the U.S. company behind a team-management and organization app, Asana said in its March 30 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Asana said it submitted a voluntary self-disclosure to OFAC after possibly providing services to sanctioned parties and illegally exporting controlled software. OFAC told Asana in February that it wouldn't pursue a civil monetary penalty against the company or “take other enforcement action,” according to the filing. The company also disclosed export violations to the Bureau of Industry and Security, which also issued a warning letter with no fine (see 2012300067).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control removed four Venezuela-related entries from its Specially Designated Nationals List, according to a March 31 notice. The agency deleted AMG S.A.S. di Alessandro Bazzoni & C., AMG S.A.S. di Alessandro Bazzoni and C., AMG S.A.S. di Alessandro Bazzoni E C. and Serigraphiclab di Bazzoni Alessandro. OFAC sanctioned the entities in January because they are owned by Alessandro Bazzoni, whom the agency said was involved in a Venezuelan sanctions evasion network (see 2101190017). OFAC didn’t comment.
Australia and Canada announced new sanctions that target Russia for its illegal occupation and annexation of Crimea, the countries said March 29. Australia said it designated one Russian person and four Russian entities involved in the construction of the Kerch Strait Railway Bridge, which links Russia to Crimea and Sevastopol, Ukraine, while Canada designated two people and four entities. Australia and Canada said they collaborated on the measures, which further aligns their sanctions regimes with those administered by the U.S. and the European Union.
The United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of the panel that advises and recommends sanctions actions against North Korea, it said March 26. The panel was renewed until April 30, 2022, and will provide a midterm report on North Korean sanctions to the Security Council Committee by Aug. 3 and a final report by Feb. 25, 2022, to the UNSC.
The European Council will not roll over sanctions on Khalifa Ghwell, Libya's former General National Congress of Libya prime minister and defense minister, it announced in a March 26 news release. Ghwell has been subject to an asset freeze and travel ban since 2016 due to his role in “acts that threaten the peace, stability and security of Libya, or that obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition.” His listing expires April 2.