A group of European countries not in the EU aligned with the bloc's recent extension of its sanctions on Syria until June 1, 2025, the Council of the European Union announced. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway also imposed the decision, the council said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned one of Guyana’s wealthiest families, their company, a Guyanese government official and two other other companies for ties to corruption. The sanctions target people and companies that have tried to “exploit Guyana’s underdeveloped gold sector for personal gain,” said Brian Nelson, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned shipping companies, shipowners, vessels and others based in China, the United Arab Emirates, India and elsewhere for helping to transport oil and commodities for Sa’id al-Jamal (see 2312280012, 2401120015 and 2403260016), a financial facilitator for the Yemen-based Houthis. OFAC said the network helps to forge shipping documents and hide their cargo origin to evade U.S. sanctions.

The U.K. last week updated the listing for International Gateways Group of Company Limited under its Myanmar sanctions regime. The listing changed the name of the firm from International Gateways Group of Companies to International Gateways Group of Company and the address of the entity. The U.K. also said the company has been involved in the "repression of the civilian population in Myanmar" and the "commission of serious human rights violations" in the nation.

Switzerland, following the EU's lead, sanctioned two people and one entity for allegedly spreading propaganda promoting Russia's war in Ukraine. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs listed former Ukrainian politicians Artem Marchevskyi and Viktor Medvedchuk, along with the Voice of Europe media outlet. The EU sanctioned these same parties last month (see 2405280062). Switzerland also amended the listings of 12 people and 17 entities under its Russia sanctions regime.

The U.S. last week removed sanctions from a Swiss business consultant, his two sons and his companies because they ended their business in Russia, a Treasury Department spokesperson said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned the Ecuador-based Los Lobos Drug Trafficking Organization and its leader, Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre, for contributing to violence and illegal drug trafficking in the country. The agency said the sanctions build on the February designation of the Los Choneros gang in Ecuador and its leader (see 2402070066).

The U.S. called on Israel to do more to prevent its citizens from attacking Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, saying the U.S. may impose more sanctions against perpetrators.

The U.S. and a group of its allies recently urged Russia and North Korea to end their “unlawful” arms transfers that they said have helped Russia’s military attack Ukraine. The nations noted that they have recently sanctioned people and companies involved in those transfers (see 2405220013, 2405170015 and 2405160029), adding that they’re “gravely concerned by the deepening DPRK-Russia cooperation in flagrant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.” The countries also urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The statement was issued by the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the U.K. and the EU.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned four Iranian entities and an Iranian aviation industry executive for their ties to the country’s unmanned aerial vehicle program, which has made drones for Russia’s war against Ukraine.