The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned Myanmar’s Ministry of Defense and two financial institutions that help facilitate foreign currency exchanges within the country and transactions between the military and foreign markets. OFAC said state-owned Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank allow the country’s defense ministry to buy arms and “other materials.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published a previously issued general license under its Venezuela Sanctions Regulations. The full text of the license is available in the notice.
Swedbank, whose subsidiary reached a $3.4 million settlement with the Treasury Department this week to resolve allegations it violated U.S. sanctions (see 2306200060), said DOJ, SEC and the Department of Financial Services in New York also are investigating it. The bank is “holding separate discussions with these agencies” and the probes are at different stages, it said June 19. “At this time, the bank cannot assess the extent of potential financial consequences, nor when the investigations will be completed.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control published a previously issued general license under its Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations. The full text of the license is available in the notice.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned two South Sudan individuals who have “abused their positions of political and military authority to carry out acts of sexual violence” against the country’s citizens. The designations target James Nando, a major general in the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, and Alfred Futuyo, Western Equatoria governor involved with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Mexico-based Hernandez Salas transnational criminal organization, a human smuggling group, and several of its members and affiliated entities. The June 16 designations target Mexican national Ofelia Hernandez Salas, the organization’s leader, and Mexican nationals Raul Saucedo Huipio, Jesus Gerardo Chavez Tamayo, Fatima Del Rocio Maldonado Lopez and Federico Hernandez Sanchez for working with the organization. OFAC also sanctioned Mexican entities Hotel Plaza and Hotel Las Torres to “conduct human smuggling activities.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned two North Korean nationals involved in procuring equipment and materials for the country’s ballistic missile program. OFAC said Choe Chol Min, based in Beijing, works with North Korean weapons trading officials, Chinese nationals and others to purchase “a range of items” used to produce missiles. His wife, Choe Un Jong, also based in Beijing, is “officially assigned” to the North Korean Embassy in China and helped coordinate an order for dual-use bearings that are used in the missiles.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week updated a Russia-related entry on its Specially Designated Nationals List. The entry is Hong Kong-based Gold Miles Limited, which was sanctioned in May as part of the Biden administration’s rollout of more than 300 new designations targeting supporters of Russia (see 2305190059). Gold Miles was designated for being owned by Irish national John Desmond Hanafin, founder of a company that OFAC said has helped move Russian money into the United Arab Emirates to protect it from Western sanctions.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week renewed three General Licenses, which were scheduled to expire June 17, that expand and clarify humanitarian-related exemptions for shipments and activities related to Syria, Iran and Venezuela (see 2106180015 and 2206100030). OFAC also updated a guidance on providing humanitarian aid to combat COVID-19.
Canada announced a new set of Russia-related sanctions June 10, designating 24 people and 17 entities connected to Moscow’s “theft of Ukrainian cultural objects.” The sanctioned people include employees at Ukrainian museums who collaborate with Russia, and the sanctioned entities include newly created organizations in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, such as the “so-called ministries of education and culture.” Canada also sanctioned people and entities with ties to Ukrainian-based private military companies that are fighting for Russia.