The Office of Foreign Assets Control took sanctions action over the last week in the Balkans, illicit drug and cyber-related programs:
Balkans-related Sanctions
- OFAC Designates Milorad Dodik’s Network: OFAC on June 18 designated a network of two individuals and seven entities that provide major sources of revenue for U.S.-designated Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik (Dodik) and his family. Dodik has used his position to accumulate personal wealth through companies linked to himself and to his son, Igor Dodik (Igor). Dodik used his official position to direct RS government contracts to a network of private companies that he and Igor oversee. OFAC designated Djordje Djuric and Milenko Cicic for their roles in managing Igor’s companies. The designated entities are Infinity International Group d.o.o. Banja Luka, Prointer ITSS d.o.o. Banja Luka Clan Infinity International Group, Kaldera Company El PGP d.o.o., Infinity Media d.o.o., K-2 Audio Services Banja Luka d.o.o., Una World Network d.o.o. and Sirius 2010 d.o.o. Banja Luka. Read more.
- Related to this action, OFAC issued Balkans-Related General License 3A, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Agricultural Commodities, Medicine, Medical Devices, Replacement Parts and Components, Software Updates, or Medical Prevention, Diagnosis, or Treatment, or Clinical Trials Involving Certain Blocked Entities,” Balkans-Related General License 4, “Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Certain Entities Blocked on June 18, 2024,” and Balkans-Related General License 5, “Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving Pumps Manufactured or Distributed by Kaldera Company EL PGP d.o.o. for the Treatment or Distribution of Drinking Water.”
Illicit Drug-related Sanctions
- OFAC Sanctions Leaders of La Nueva Familia Michoacana Drug Cartel, FinCEN Issues Advisory: OFAC on June 20 sanctioned eight Mexico-based targets affiliated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug cartel for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States. In addition to narcotics trafficking, La Nueva Familia Michoacana smuggles migrants from Mexico into the United States. Concurrently, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a Supplemental Advisory to include new trends and red flags that can be indicators of activity associated with the procurement of precursor chemicals and manufacturing equipment used for the synthesis of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Read more.
Cyber-related Sanctions
- OFAC Designates Senior Leadership of AO Kaspersky Lab: OFAC on June 21 designated twelve individuals in executive and senior leadership roles at AO Kaspersky Lab for their roles in supporting the Russian government’s cyber intelligence objectives. Concurrent with OFAC’s designation, the Department of Commerce issued a final determination pursuant to Executive Order 13873 prohibiting Kaspersky Lab, Inc., its affiliates, subsidiaries and parent companies directly or indirectly from providing anti-virus software and cybersecurity products or services in the United States or to U.S. persons. In addition, the Department of Commerce has designated AO Kaspersky Lab and OOO Kaspersky Group (Russia), and Kaspersky Labs Limited (United Kingdom) on the Entity List for their cooperation with Russian military and intelligence authorities in support of the Russian government’s cyber intelligence objectives. Read more.
