The Office of Foreign Assets Control is amending the maximum civil penalty amount for certain sanctions violations to reflect inflation adjustments for its civil monetary penalties, it said in a notice. The changes, effective March 17, increase the maximum penalties for violating the Trading With the Enemy Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and the Clean Diamond Trade Act. OFAC also increased the maximum civil penalties for certain record-keeping violations and made several technical changes to “consolidate or shorten” certain citations in OFAC’s regulations.
The United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of its mission in South Sudan, which includes monitoring the country's human rights violations and recommending sanctions, the UNSC said March 12. The council urged South Sudan to allow imports of humanitarian goods and cease human rights abuses, saying it will “consider all appropriate measures” against violators. It also urged UN member states to continue to “prevent the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related” items to South Sudan.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a March 9 guidance about new regulations and measures surrounding trade in “antiquities and art.” FinCEN said banks with Bank Secrecy Act obligations “should be aware” that they may be involved in illegal trading of art, which may include money laundering and sanctions violations. The guidance outlines how financial institutions should be filing Suspicious Activity Reports that detail the potential violations.
The State Department issued terrorism designations targeting two groups and two people, according to notices released March 10. The agency designated the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique branches of the Islamic State group as foreign terrorist organizations. The DRC and Mozambique branches were also designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The State Department also designated Seka Musa Baluku, a leader of the DRC group, and Abu Yasir Hassan, a leader of the Mozambique group, as SDGTs.
The State Department designated two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials for human rights violations, it said in a March 9 notice. The designations target IRGC interrogators Ali Hemmatian and Masoud Safdari for torturing political prisoners. The designation also applies to their immediate family members.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the adult children of the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military and their six companies, the agency said March 10. The designations target Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon, who have “directly benefitted from their father’s position and malign influence.” OFAC also sanctioned the companies A&M Mahar Company Limited, Sky One Construction Company Limited, The Yangon Restaurant, The Yangon Gallery, Everfit Company Limited and Seventh Sense Company Limited.
The U.S. revoked a Treasury Department license issued in January to mining magnate Dan Gertler and reimposed sanctions on the Israeli businessman, the State Department said March 8. The license had been issued to Gertler during the last days of the Trump administration, effectively exempting Gertler from certain U.S. sanctions. The State Department said the license is “inconsistent with America’s strong foreign policy interests in combatting corruption around the world,” adding that Gertler has “engaged in extensive public corruption” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The U.S. plans to review its sanctions regime against Venezuela after determining that unilateral measures over the last four years haven’t been effective and haven’t driven Nicolas Maduro from power, a senior administration official told reporters on a March 8 call. The official said the U.S. is hoping to garner more multilateral support for an international approach to Venezuela but added that it is in “no rush to lift sanctions.” The comments come amid a Treasury Department review of all U.S. sanctions regimes (see 2102230047).
The United Nations Security Council removed one former Sudanese military official from its sanctions list because he died, the UNSC said March 5. The council delisted Adam Shareif, who was sanctioned as the commander of the Sudanese Liberation Army.
The State Department designated former Ukrainian public official Ihor Kolomoyskyy for “significant” corruption,” the agency said March 5. Kolomoyskyy “undermined” the Ukrainian public’s “faith in their government’s democratic institutions” and used his government position for “personal benefit.” The State Department also designated Kolomoyskyy’s immediate family members, including his wife, Iryna Kolomoyska; his daughter, Angelika Kolomoyska; and his son, Israel Zvi Kolomoyskyy.