Nature’s Sunshine Products, a dietary supplement manufacturer headquartered in Utah, said it recently submitted final voluntary disclosures related to possible violations of U.S. sanctions and export controls.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued four new or amended Russia-related general licenses Nov. 14. General License 124B, which replaces 124A, authorizes petroleum services and other transactions related to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Tengizchevroil and Karachaganak projects. General License 128A, which replaces 128, authorizes certain transactions involving Lukoil retail service stations located outside Russia. General License 130 authorizes transactions involving certain Lukoil entities in Bulgaria, and General License 131 authorizes certain transactions for the negotiation of and entry into contingent contracts for the sale of Lukoil International GmbH and related maintenance activities.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 13 sanctioned the Mexico-based Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOCG), a transnational criminal organization, and five members of the Hysa family for laundering drug-trafficking proceeds through various Mexico-based businesses.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 12 sanctioned 32 individuals and entities for operating procurement networks that support Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 12 sanctioned the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), a Burmese armed group, for supporting Myanmar-based cyber scam centers that target Americans with fraudulent investment schemes.
The Treasury Department received mixed feedback about its decision to delay new regulations that were set to make investment advisers subject to anti-money-laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) requirements, a Biden-era effort that was meant to prevent criminals from hiding money in the U.S. and sanctioned companies from accessing sensitive technology through investments in American firms (see 2509230035 and 2507240021).
VFC Solutions, a sanctioned Cypriot investment firm, filed a lawsuit against the Office of Foreign Assets Control for denying its petition to be delisted from the Specially Designated National and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), arguing that the agency acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" by denying the petition based on "speculation and conjecture."
The U.S. has given Syria a new 180-day sanctions waiver under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 to help the war-torn country continue its rebuilding effort, the Office of Foreign Assets Control said Nov. 10.
The Treasury Department won’t issue a license to Gunvor Corp. to operate Lukoil’s international energy business in the event of its sale, the agency said on social media last week. “As long as [Russian President Vladimir] Putin continues the senseless killings, the Kremlin’s puppet, Gunvor, will never get a license to operate and profit,” Treasury said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned three people who it said helped to funnel tens of millions of dollars from Iran to Hezbollah this year, which allowed the terror group to "support its paramilitary forces, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, and resist the Lebanese government’s efforts to assert sovereign control over all Lebanese territory." The designations target Hezbollah member Ossama Jaber, as well as Ja’far Muhammad Qasir and Samer Kasbar, who help manage Hezbollah's finances.