The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced Monday that it is sanctioning ten individuals, entities, and vessels, including tanker captains, in multiple jurisdictions that have engaged in the illicit transport of oil and other commodities, including for the network of Houthi rebels financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal.
A press release issued by OFAC added that this action targets maritime shipping and financial facilitators, several vessel managers and owners, and a company involved in forging shipping documents.
Monday’s action, the seventh round of sanctions targeting the network of Sa’id al-Jamal since October 2023, underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to isolating and disrupting the financing of international terrorist groups such as the Houthis.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson, said: “The Houthis continue to leverage an expansive support network to facilitate their illicit activities, including hiding the origin of cargo, forging shipping documents, and providing services to sanctioned vessels,” , adding,“As we demonstrated with our military strikes last week, the United States government is committed to disrupting and degrading the Houthis’ ability to engage in attacks against commercial shipping and naval vessels, as well as target those who seek to facilitate these activities.”
The press release explained that Monday’s action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism sanctions authority, Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. OFAC designated Sa’id al-Jamal pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007, for providing support to multiple terrorist groups.
The U.S. Department of State designation of Ansarallah (commonly known as the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, became effective on February 16, 2024.
Houthi financier Sa’id al-Jamal, who goes by the Chinese alias “Caihong” (彩虹), or “Rainbow,” relies on a network of foreign shipping firms to sell and transport commodities to China, Syria, and other jurisdictions. United Arab Emirates (UAE)- and Oman-based Shark International Shipping L.L.C, under the leadership of its managing director John Britto Aruldhas, has worked with the Sa’id al-Jamal network to furnish forged shipping documents for vessels shipping commodities on behalf of the Houthis.
India-based Rayyan Shipping (OPC) Private Limited (Rayyan) has served as the manager and technical operator of the sanctioned Guyana-flagged vessel OLYMPICS (IMO: 9212759), formerly known as the LADY SOFIA, which continues to carry cargo for the Sa’id al-Jamal network. As of mid-May, the OLYMPICS, captained by Vivek Ashok Pandey, was operating under forged paperwork falsely indicating that the vessel was carrying Malaysian commodities that were loaded at a Malaysian port in late April. Pandey has captained the LADY SOFIA since it onboarded commodities on behalf of the Sa’id al-Jamal network in late January. The OLYMPICS remains in the East China Sea.
Additionally, OFAC is designating Sa’id al-Jamal’s Yemen-based nephew ‘Abdallah Najib Ahmad al-Jamal (‘Abdallah al-Jamal), who manages money laundering operations for the Sa’id al-Jamal network. ‘Abdallah al-Jamal works with U.S.-designated money launderer Bilal Hudroj and sanctioned Yemeni exchange houses Davos Company for Exchange and Transfers and Al-Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company to move funds on behalf of Sa’id al-Jamal. ‘Abdallah al-Jamal has handled millions of dollars’ worth of currency that has been transferred to Yemen as part of these money laundering operations.
Shark International Shipping L.L.C, Rayyan Shipping (OPC) Private Limited, Vivek Ashok Pandey, and ‘Abdallah Najib Ahmad al-Jamal are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sa’id al-Jamal. OFAC is designating John Britto Aruldhas pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Shark International Shipping L.L.C.
OFAC is also designating Sandeep Singh Choudhary, the master of the vessel LA PEARL, which also operates under the name ELITE. OFAC identified the LA PEARL as property in which Saone Shipping Corporation has an interest on April 25, 2024.
Saone Shipping Corporation was concurrently designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company (SEJ).
The LA PEARL is currently anchored off the coast of China following its delivery of sanctioned cargo. Sandeep Singh Choudhary is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, SEJ.