The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated and identified as blocked property a dozen individuals and vessels involved in financing the Houthis’ regional activities through Sa’id al-Jamal’s network. The designations include Indonesia-based Malaysian and Singaporean national Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad, and China-based Chinese national Zhuang Liang, both of whom facilitated illicit shipments and engaged in money laundering for the network.
Sa’id al-Jamal’s network reportedly generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the Houthis by shipping Iranian commodities, including oil. This funding supports ongoing Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. OFAC’s action targets various components of this illicit network, from clients and facilitators to insurance providers, vessels, and ship management firms.
“Today’s action underscores our focus on disrupting the Houthis’ sprawling network of financial facilitators, shell companies, and vessels that enable the primary source of funding for the group’s destabilizing activities,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. “Treasury will continue to disrupt actors critical to this network’s operations as well as the Houthis’ ability to further destabilize the region and threaten international commerce.”
This move is pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets those providing support to terrorist organizations. OFAC previously designated Sa’id al-Jamal under E.O. 13224 on June 10, 2021, for supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC-QF was designated under E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007.
Among those targeted are Mohammad Roslan Bin Ahmad (also known as Royston Wu Chiren or Mohammad Roslan Royston), an Indonesia-based facilitator who provides ship management services for Sa’id al-Jamal’s network; Zhuang Liang, a businessman based in China who engages in money laundering; Abdi Nasir Ali Mahamud (Mahamud), a Houthi-affiliate using a Somali diplomatic passport; Seychelles-registered Ascent General Insurance Company; UAE-based Fornacis Energy Trading Co. L.L.C.; Marshall Islands-registered Barco Ship Management Inc.; Sea Knot Shipping Inc.; UAE-based Alpha Shine Marine Services L.L.C., among others.
The sanctioned entities have been involved in providing insurance to vessels used by Sa’id al-Jamal’s network or managing ships used for illicit trade worth tens of millions of dollars.
As a result of these actions, all property and interests in property belonging to these designated persons within U.S jurisdiction are blocked. Transactions involving such property by U.S persons are generally prohibited unless authorized by OFAC.
Financial institutions engaging with these sanctioned entities may also expose themselves to sanctions or enforcement actions.
For more information on seeking removal from an OFAC list or details about today’s designations can be found on OFAC’s website.
###
