May 16, 2017: OFAC Updates Multiple Programs

Yesterday, OFAC added the following persons to its Syrian sanctions program:

ABBAS, Muhammad (a.k.a. ABBAS, Mohammad Hasan; a.k.a. ABBAS, Mohammad Hassan), Damascus, Syria; DOB 01 Sep 1964; POB Al Ladhiqiyah, Syria; Gender Male (individual) [SYRIA] (Linked To: MAKHLUF, Rami).

DARWISH, Samir Sakhir, Mezzah, Damascus, Syria; DOB 1971; alt. DOB 1970; alt. DOB 1972; Head of Al-Bustan Charity (individual) [SYRIA] (Linked To: AL-BUSTAN CHARITY).

MAKHLUF, Ihab (a.k.a. MAKHLOUF, Ehab; a.k.a. MAKHLOUF, Iehab; a.k.a. MAKHLOUF, Ihab), Damascus, Syria; DOB 21 Jan 1973; Gender Male; Passport N002848852 (individual) [SYRIA] (Linked To: MAKHLUF, Rami).

MAKHLUF, Iyad (a.k.a. MAKHLOUF, Eyad; a.k.a. MAKHLOUF, Iyad), Damascus, Syria; DOB 21 Jan 1973; Gender Male; Passport N001820740 (individual) [SYRIA].

and this person to the nuclear proliferation sanctions program:

QUWAYDIR, Muhammed Bin-Muhammed Faris (a.k.a. KWEIDER, Muhammad; a.k.a. KWEITER, Muhammad; a.k.a. QASSAR, Samir; a.k.a. QUAYDIR, Muhammad), Damascus, Syria; DOB 21 Jul 1967; Gender Male; Passport 004123298; Scientific Studies and Research Center Contracts Director (individual) [NPWMD] (Linked To: SCIENTIFIC STUDIES AND RESEARCH CENTER).

In addition, these entities were added to the Syrian program:

AL-AJNIHAH (a.k.a. AJJNEHA; a.k.a. AL-AGNEHA COMPANY; a.k.a. AL-AJNIHAH PRIVATE JOINT STOCK CORPORATION), Damascus, Syria [SYRIA] (Linked To: ABBAS, Muhammad).

AL-BUSTAN CHARITY (a.k.a. AL JAMAIYAH AL BUSTAN; a.k.a. AL-BUSTAN ASSOCIATION; a.k.a. AL-BUSTAN CHARITY ASSOCIATION; a.k.a. AL-BUSTAN CHARITY FOUNDATION; a.k.a. AL-BUSTAN CHARITY SOCIETY; a.k.a. AL-BUSTAN ORGANIZATION; a.k.a. JAMIAT AL-BUSTAN AL-KHAYRIYAH CHARITY), Mazza, Damascus, Syria [SYRIA] (Linked To: MAKHLUF, Rami).

BARLY OFF-SHORE (a.k.a. BARLY OFF-SHORE S.A.L.), Lebanon [SYRIA] (Linked To: ABBAS, Muhammad).

CHAM ISLAMIC BANK (a.k.a. AL-CHAM ISLAMIC BANK; a.k.a. CHAM BANK), Al-Najmeh Square, Damascus, Syria; All offices worldwide [SYRIA].

and this one was added to the NPWMD program:

SYRIAN COMPANY FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (a.k.a. “SCIT”), P.O. Box 11037, Damascus, Syria [NPWMD] (Linked To: ORGANIZATION FOR TECHNOLOGICAL INDUSTRIES).

The following woman was also removed from the transnational criminal organizations (TCO) sanctions program:

FERRARI, Raffaella, Parkshot House, 5 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2PR, United Kingdom; Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom; 69 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotland G1 3HL, United Kingdom; DOB 01 Nov 1972 to 30 Nov 1972; nationality Italy (individual) [TCO] (Linked To: PACNET SERVICES LTD.; Linked To: CHEXX ITALIA SRL; Linked To: THE PAYMENTS FACTORY LTD.; Linked To: COUNTING HOUSE SERVICES LTD.; Linked To: PACNET GROUP).

And the following records under the TCO program were modified:

CHEXX ITALIA SRL, Largo San Giuseppe 3/32, Genova 16121, Italy; V.A.T. Number IT02326870991; Commercial Registry Number GE 477550 (Italy); Fiscal Code 02326870991 (Italy) [TCO] (Linked To: DAVIS, Robert Paul; Linked To: FERRARI, Raffaella; Linked To: PACNET GROUP). -to- CHEXX ITALIA SRL, Largo San Giuseppe 3/32, Genova 16121, Italy; V.A.T. Number IT02326870991; Commercial Registry Number GE 477550 (Italy); Fiscal Code 02326870991 (Italy) [TCO] (Linked To: DAVIS, Robert Paul; Linked To: PACNET GROUP).

COUNTING HOUSE SERVICES LTD. (a.k.a. UK COUNTING HOUSE LTD.), 595 Howe Street, 4th Floor, Vancouver, BC V6C 2T5, Canada; 410-900 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V672M4, Canada; 4410-900 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2M4, Canada; 5 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2PR, United Kingdom; 43 Princeton Highstown Rd., Suite D, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550, United States; Tel Aviv, Israel; Website http://www.countinghouseservices.com; alt. Website http://www.countinghouseltd.com; Registration ID 31000078006605 (United States); alt. Registration ID 31000078141851 (United States); alt. Registration ID M10716144 (Canada); Company Number 09835705 (United Kingdom); alt. Company Number BC0853818 (Canada) [TCO] (Linked To: PACNET SERVICES LTD.; Linked To: FERRARI, Raffaella; Linked To: DAVIS, Robert Paul; Linked To: PACNET GROUP). -to- COUNTING HOUSE SERVICES LTD. (a.k.a. UK COUNTING HOUSE LTD.), 595 Howe Street, 4th Floor, Vancouver, BC V6C 2T5, Canada; 410-900 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V672M4, Canada; 4410-900 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2M4, Canada; 5 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2PR, United Kingdom; 43 Princeton Highstown Rd., Suite D, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550, United States; Tel Aviv, Israel; Website http://www.countinghouseservices.com; alt. Website http://www.countinghouseltd.com; Registration ID 31000078006605 (United States); alt. Registration ID 31000078141851(United States); alt. Registration ID M10716144 (Canada); Company Number 09835705 (United Kingdom); alt. Company Number BC0853818 (Canada) [TCO] (Linked To: PACNET SERVICES LTD.; Linked To: DAVIS, Robert Paul; Linked To: PACNET GROUP).

THE PAYMENTS FACTORY LTD. (f.k.a. RUMENO SONCE 60 D.O.O.; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY D.O.O.; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY LLC; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY LLC – PERU; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY PERU LLC), 69 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotland G1 3HL, United Kingdom; 4th Floor, 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2T5, Canada; Suite 3, 3rd Floor, Britannia House, St. Georges Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1JD, United Kingdom; 1521 Concord Pike, #303, Wilmington, DE 19803, United States; Pasaje Retiro 574 of. 201, Ciudad Satelite, Santa Rosa, Provincia Callao, Peru; 2-22-7, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan; Jr. Retiro No. 574, Dpto. 201, Callao 01, Peru; 3 Independent Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32202-5004, United States; Tehnoloski park 24, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia; Shannon Airport House SFZ, County Clare V14 E370, Ireland; 89/247 Soi Ruammit Phatthana Yeak 1, Tharang Sub-District, Bang Kehn District, Bangkok Province, Thailand; Website http://www.thepaymentsfactory.com; Business Registration Document # 6974988 (Slovenia); Tax ID No. 47210885 (Slovenia); Commercial Registry Number 20549092501 (Peru); Company Number SC514975 (United Kingdom) [TCO] (Linked To: DAVIS, Robert Paul; Linked To: FERRARI, Raffaella; Linked To: PACNET GROUP). -to- THE PAYMENTS FACTORY LTD. (f.k.a. RUMENO SONCE 60 D.O.O.; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY D.O.O.; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY LLC; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY LLC – PERU; a.k.a. THE PAYMENTS FACTORY PERU LLC), 69 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotland G1 3HL, United Kingdom; 4th Floor, 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2T5, Canada; Suite 3, 3rd Floor, Britannia House, St. Georges Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 1JD, United Kingdom; 1521 Concord Pike, #303, Wilmington, DE 19803, United States; Pasaje Retiro 574 of. 201, Ciudad Satelite, Santa Rosa, Provincia Callao, Peru; 2-22-7, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002, Japan; Jr. Retiro No. 574, Dpto. 201, Callao 01, Peru; 3 Independent Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32202-5004, United States; Tehnoloski park 24, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia; Shannon Airport House SFZ, County Clare V14 E370, Ireland; 89/247 Soi Ruammit Phatthana Yeak 1, Tharang Sub-District, Bang Kehn District, Bangkok Province, Thailand; Website http://www.thepaymentsfactory.com; Business Registration Document # 6974988 (Slovenia); Tax ID No. 47210885 (Slovenia); Commercial Registry Number 20549092501 (Peru); Company Number SC514975 (United Kingdom) [TCO] (Linked To: DAVIS, Robert Paul; Linked To: PACNET GROUP).

And Treasury issued the following press release about the Syrian program changes:

Treasury Sanctions Additional Individuals and Entities In Response to Continuing Violent Attacks on Syrian Citizens by the Syrian Government

5/16/2017

Action Targets Financial Facilitation for the Syrian Regime and Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated five individuals and five entities in response to continued acts of violence committed by the Government of Syria, led by Bashar al-Assad, against its own citizens.  The designated individuals and entities have provided support or services to the Government of Syria, or are owned or controlled by or are acting for or on behalf of designated individuals or entities.

“The Syrian government’s relentless attacks on civilians have continued unabated,” said OFAC Director John E. Smith.  “As long as the Syrian government continues its campaign of brutal violence against its own people, Treasury will continue targeting the finances of anyone enabling Assad, and will continue intensifying pressure on Assad’s regime in support of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Syria.”

Today’s action was taken pursuant to three Executive Orders (E.O.s): E.O. 13572, which targets persons responsible for human rights abuses in Syria, their supporters, and supporters of senior officials or certain activities related to public corruption; E.O. 13582, which targets the Government of Syria and its supporters; and E.O. 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters.

As a result of today’s action, any property or interest in property of the identified persons in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within the United States must be blocked.  Additionally, transactions by U.S. persons involving these persons are generally prohibited.

Support to Government of Syria Regime Insider Rami Makhluf

OFAC designated Muhammad Abbas, the maternal cousin of Rami Makhluf who carries out the financial interests of Makhluf, pursuant to E.O. for 13572 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Rami Makhluf, and materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, Rami Makhluf.  OFAC also designated al-Ajnihah, a private Damascus-based company used to move Rami Makhluf’s financial earnings out of Syria, for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Muhammad Abbas, and Barly Off-Shore, a Lebanon-based front company used to move Rami Makhluf’s financial earnings out of Syria, for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Muhammad Abbas.  Rami Makhluf is a powerful Syrian businessman and regime insider who benefits from and aids corrupt Syrian regime officials.  Maklhuf uses intimidation and his close ties to the Assad regime to obtain improper financial advantages at the expense of ordinary Syrians.

OFAC also designated Al-Bustan Charity pursuant to E.O. 13572 for being owned or controlled by Rami Makhluf, and Al-Bustan’s director, Samir Darwish, for acting for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Al-Bustan Charity.  Makhluf created a vast private network of militias and security-linked institutions through Al-Bustan, a prominent organization recruiting and mobilizing individuals to support and augment Syrian military forces.

Additionally, OFAC designated Ihab Makhluf, the brother of Rami Makhluf and a cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, pursuant to E.O. 13572 for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, and acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Rami Makhluf.  Ihab Makhluf was also designated for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, and acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Syriatel.  Ihab Makhluf, the Vice Chairman of Syrian mobile phone provider Syriatel, which is owned by Rami Makhluf and was previously designated by OFAC, has helped Rami Makhluf evade sanctions by moving his assets overseas.

Support to Government of Syria

OFAC today also designated Iyad Makhluf, another brother of Rami Makhluf and cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, pursuant to E.O. 13582 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, and materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of the Government of Syria.  Iyad Makhluf has helped the Government of Syria evade international sanctions.  OFAC also designated Damascus-based Cham Islamic Bank for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, and materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of the Government of Syria.

Persons Affiliated with the Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) and Organization for Technological Industries

Finally, pursuant to E.O. 13382, OFAC today designated Muhammed Bin-Muhammed Faris Quwaydir, SSRC Contracts Director, for acting for or on behalf of SSRC, the Syrian government agency responsible for developing and producing non-conventional weapons and the means to deliver them.  OFAC also designated Syrian Company for Information Technology (SCIT), for being owned or controlled by previously-designated Organization for Technological Industries (OTI), a subsidiary of the Syrian Ministry of Defense.