All OFAC articles
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News BriefTreasury kicks off new wave of Iran sanctions
The Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Iran, with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen promising “further actions in the days and weeks ahead” following the Middle East nation’s attack on Israel.
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News BriefU.S., U.K. ban new Russian metal imports
The U.S. Treasury Department, in coordination with the United Kingdom, is clamping down harder on Russia’s ability to wage war against Ukraine by banning the import of Russian-origin aluminum, copper, and nickel.
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News BriefBIS rule expands export control restrictions on OFAC sanctioned
The Bureau of Industry and Security adopted a final rule to extend its export restrictions across more entities and individuals designated under certain sanctions programs maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
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News BriefEFG International settles Cuba, blocked persons U.S. sanctions case
Swiss-based global private banking group EFG International agreed to pay more than $3.7 million as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing apparent violations of U.S. sanctions against Cuba and two blocked individuals.
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News BriefZoetis says no action from OFAC in Iran sanctions matter
Zoetis, a developer and manufacturer of vaccines and medicines for animals, disclosed it was informed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control that it won’t face enforcement for potential violations of Iran sanctions uncovered during an acquisition integration.
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News BriefFinCEN alert flags Israeli extremists fomenting violence in West Bank
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an alert addressing the financing of Israeli extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
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News BriefTreasury cites Iraqi bank, owner over terrorist financing concerns
Al-Huda Bank faces severance from the U.S. financial system for being a conduit of terrorist financing, according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, while its owner, Hamad al-Moussawi, was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
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PremiumOFAC official urges company transparency on ransomware events
Despite its reputation as a fierce enforcer of sanctions, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has a softer side and wants to help companies that are hit with ransomware attacks, according to the agency’s senior compliance officer.
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News BriefPURE Insurance to pay $466K in OFAC sanctions case
Insurance organization Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange agreed to pay $466,200 as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing alleged sanctioned transactions on behalf of designated Ukrainian-Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.
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News BriefCoinList to pay $1.2M to settle Crimea sanctions violations
Virtual currency exchange CoinList Markets agreed to pay more than $1.2 million to settle allegations from the Office of Foreign Assets Control that it violated U.S. sanctions by processing transactions for customers located in the Crimea region of Ukraine.
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PremiumFive compliance triumphs from 2023
A financial services giant’s compliance mea culpa that could serve to benefit the rest of the profession, a chemical company’s praised FCPA settlement, and an example of the value of whistleblowers highlight CW’s annual list of laudable ethics and compliance moments.
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News BriefNew OFAC sanctions target international Russia supporters
More than 150 new designations implemented by the Office of Foreign Assets Control continue U.S. efforts to crack down on entities and individuals supporting Russia from outside the country.
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News BriefU.S. agencies issue ‘know your cargo’ transport compliance note
Five agencies of the U.S. government combined to issue best practices guidance for entities in the maritime and other transportation industries to help reduce risk of sanctions and export control violations and evasion efforts.
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News BriefOFAC: Nasdaq to pay $4M over ex-subsidiary’s Iran sanctions lapses
Nasdaq agreed to pay more than $4 million as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing apparent Iran sanctions violations at the stock exchange operator’s former Armenian subsidiary.
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News BriefBinance pleads guilty, fined $4.3B over widespread U.S. law violations
Federal agencies hit Binance with more than $4.3 billion in penalties and imposed multiple compliance monitorships on the virtual currency exchange as punishment for its repeated and intentional violations of U.S. anti-money laundering laws, sanctions, and other regulations.
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PremiumDOJ official: People ‘drawing the right conclusions’ on national security focus
Christian Nauvel, deputy chief counsel for corporate enforcement in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, said the agency’s focus on national security is “top of mind at the highest levels” and that enforcement numbers are set to increase.
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News BriefDaVinci Payments to pay $206K over OFAC sanctions lapses
DaVinci Payments, a financial services firm which manages prepaid reward card programs, agreed to pay approximately $206,000 as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing alleged sanctions violations across four countries.
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News BriefOFAC sanctions more investment entities linked to Hamas
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed a second round of sanctions on investment entities believed to be funding the terrorist organization Hamas.
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News BriefTreasury eases Venezuela sanctions amid electoral progress
The U.S. Treasury Department dialed back certain of its sanctions against Venezuela after the latter’s government and an opposition faction agreed to work together toward the prospect of a presidential election in 2024.
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News Brief3M to pay $9.6M over Iran sanctions lapses
The Office of Foreign Assets Control ordered multinational conglomerate 3M to pay more than $9.6 million over apparent Iran sanctions violations by its subsidiary and a U.S. employee of a separate subsidiary.