The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), designated on Tuesday key Hezbollah operatives and financial facilitators operating in South America and Lebanon.
“This list includes Amer Mohamed Akil Rada, who in addition to his role as a senior Hezbollah operative, was one of the operational members of Hezbollah who carried out the terrorist attack against the Associacion Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Argentina in 1994 that killed 85 people,” as mentioned in a statement issued by the US Department of the Treasury.
Rada, a key member of the Hezbollah organization, has also been linked to “managing a commercial enterprise responsible for exporting charcoal to Lebanon, thus generating revenue for Hezbollah’s terrorist endeavors.”
OFAC’s designation extends to seven individuals and entities connected to this network, whose activities enable Hezbollah to fund its terrorist actions and maintain a presence in Latin America.
“Today’s action underscores the US government’s commitment to pursuing Hezbollah operatives and financiers, no matter their location,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “We will continue to root out those who seek to abuse the US and the international financial system to fund and engage in terrorism.”
The designation of this South America and Lebanon-based network, which comprises family members, business associates, and companies, is executed under Executive Order 13224, as amended. This order specifically targets terrorists, terrorist organizations, leaders, officials of terrorist groups, and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism, according to the Treasury.
Other designated people and companies include Samer Akil Rada, BCI Technologies C.A., Mahdy Akil Helbawi, Zanga S.A.S., Black Diamond SARL, and Ali Ismail Ajrouch.
“As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities listed above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC,” the Treasury stated.
OFAC’s regulations prohibit US persons or entities within the United States from engaging in any transactions that involve property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Moreover, individuals or entities found to be conducting certain transactions with those designated today may face sanctions or enforcement actions.
“Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Two individuals being designated today are also subject to the Hezbollah Financial Sanctions Regulations, which implement the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015, as amended by the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2018,” the statement read.
Under these authorities, OFAC can prohibit or impose stringent conditions on the opening or maintaining of correspondent or payable-through accounts in the United States by foreign financial institutions involved in significant transactions on behalf of Specially Designated Global Terrorists or persons connected to Hezbollah.
