A new alert published this week by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network warns banks about Mexico-based criminal groups trying to smuggle large amounts of cash from the U.S. financial system into Mexico, where “they can be accessed again to fund their criminal enterprises.” The alert includes an overview of how cartels and other groups may be trying to move that money, lists various red flags banks should monitor, and asks banks to file suspicious activity reports with FinCEN.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned six people and seven entities tied to the money laundering network supporting the Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel, which the agency called one of the “most notorious and violent drug trafficking organizations in the world.”
The State Department this week sanctioned six Hong Kong government and police officials who it said have helped to implement Hong Kong’s repressive national security law, which penalizes government dissent.
The U.K. extended a general sanctions license that permits sanctioned entity Russian Railways to pay Lithuanian Railways for the transit of "persons between the Kaliningrad Region and other parts of Russia via the passenger rail service operated by" Lithuanian Railways. The license's original expiration date of April 13, 2025, has been extended until 11:59 p.m. on April 13, 2027. It also lets Lithuanian Railways receive payments from Russian Railways for this type of travel and permits people or entities to "carry out any activity reasonably necessary to effect" payments to Lithuanian Railways.
The Council of the European Union on March 27 sanctioned another 25 people and seven entities under its Belarus sanctions regime for undermining democracy in Belarus and aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week updated a range of entries on its Specially Designated Nationals List to include the fact that they're a "secondary sanctions risk." The change impacts sanctioned people and entities with ties to China, Russia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and other regions. OFAC didn't immediately release more information.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned five people and three companies with ties to a Lebanon-based sanctions evasion network supporting the terror group Hezbollah.
The U.K. this week amended or corrected sanctions listings under its Russia and Global Human Rights sanctions regimes. Under the Russia restrictions, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended the listings for 2Rivers DMCC and 2Rivers PTE LTD, noting that the companies are sanctioned for supporting the Russian government by "carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance" to the Russian government, "namely the Russian energy sector." Under the Global Human Rights sanctions regime, OFSI corrected the listing for Wasantha Karannagoda, commander of the Sri Lankan Navy from 2005 to 2009, to reflect the title of Admiral as part of his full name.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned three Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security officials who OFAC said were involved in the abduction, detention and "probable death" of former FBI agent Robert Levinson. OFAC said Iranian officials Reza Amiri Moghadam, Gholamhossein Mohammadnia and Taqi Daneshvar "all played a role in Mr. Levinson’s abduction, probable death, and Iran’s efforts to cover up or obfuscate their responsibility." Levinson disappeared in Iran in 2007 while on a CIA mission.
The U.K. on March 24 revised two Russia-related general licenses to capture certain transactions with Russian commercial bank T-Bank. The licenses, which authorize certain humanitarian activity and energy-related payments, had previously allowed certain transactions with Rosbank or Tinkoff Bank. Tinkoff Bank has since changed its name to T-Bank (see 2503070043), and the company operates Rosbank as one of its branches.