Further Houthi, Hizballah Sanctions

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned several companies, individuals, and vessels for their involvement in the shipment of Iranian commodities, including oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on behalf of the network of Houthi financial official Sa’id al-Jamal. 

OFAC is also updating the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) entry for the sanctioned vessel ARTURA (IMO: 9150365), which was responsible for shipping commodities for Sa’id al-Jamal, to reflect the changing of its name to OHAR. 

The revenue from al-Jamal’s network "helps finance the Houthis’ reckless targeting of shipping in the Red Sea and civilian infrastructure, which has led to grave consequences for both the region and the international community," according to a Treasury statement.

In addition to  targeting the network of Sa’id al-Jamal, OFAC is also designating Hong Kong-based Kai Heng Long Global Energy Limited for its role in shipping Iranian LPG worth tens of millions of dollars for Lebanese Hizballah, and identifying as blocked property four vessels the company owns and manages.

HOUTHI SHIPPING

Sa’id al-Jamal and his network rely on a host of shipping companies, vessels, and facilitators to enable the sale and shipment of Iranian commodities, including oil and petroleum products, in order to generate revenue for the Houthis and the IRGC-QF.

Sa’id al-Jamal’s network relies on a variety of foreign shipping agents to facilitate shipments overseas, including Malaysia-based Transmarine Navigation (M) SDN. BHD and UAE-based K F D General Trading L.L.C.

HIZBALLAH LPG SHIPMENTS

Hong Kong-based Kai Heng Long Global Energy Limited is the ship manager, operator, and registered owner of an Eswatini-flagged LPG tanker, as well as two São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged LPG tankers, and a Panama-flagged LPG , all of which shipped Iranian LPG. 

Eswatini?  

The Kingdom of Eswatini,  also known by its former official name Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast.

Mbabane, Eswatini’s capital, is the notional home port for vessels registered in the country.   According to the Directorate of Merchant Shipping "The port of Mbabane is the Port of Kingdom of Eswatini is situated on the east coast of South Africa. It is a multi-Purpose Terminal handling Containers , Bulk carriers, Tankers ,Small Passenger vessel and others."   It is not.

Estwano Maritime Affairs is also in the business of issuing Fishing Licenses, including a "High Seas Fishing License" and "Authorization for Permit to Operate in the EEZ of another State."