US sanctions on network linked to financing Houthi militias in Yemen, including individuals, companies and ships

The United States has imposed new sanctions on individuals, companies and vessels linked to the network of Saeed al-Jamal, who resides in Iran and manages funds for the Houthi group and facilitates the smuggling of weapons and oil with the support of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that his country imposed sanctions on 5 companies and 5 individuals, and listed 8 ships as prohibited property due to their ties to Saeed al-Jamal, a Houthi financial activist on the US sanctions list.

The statement indicated that Al-Jamal is based in Iran with the support of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, stressing that Iranian support for regional terrorist groups continues to destabilize the Middle East.

The statement added that revenues from the camel network generate funds that enable the Houthis to launch regional attacks, including disrupting international shipping in vital waterways. It noted that this is the eleventh batch of sanctions imposed by Washington on the Saeed al-Jamal network.

The US Department of State pledged to continue using available tools to target these illicit revenue streams, and explained that the Treasury Department’s actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for the Counterterrorism Authority.

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a statement that the action includes captains of ships transporting "illicit oil" as well as the companies that manage and operate these ships, for the benefit of Al-Jamal.

“The Houthis rely heavily on the international network run by Saeed al-Jamal and his associates to transport and sell Iranian oil, which supports their violent campaign,” said Bradley Smith, acting under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

The U.S. Department of State’s designation of Ansar Allah (known as the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist ( SDGT ), pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, became effective on February 16, 2024.

A vast network of illicit shipping

The Camel network relies on a network of front companies and willing partners in multiple jurisdictions to facilitate the sale of Iranian oil and petroleum products to the Houthis. For example, in late 2023, the Panamanian-flagged crude oil tanker Kapok ( IMO 9315654 ), owned by Marshall Islands-registered Changtai Shipping Co., Ltd., transported more than 1 million barrels of crude oil, worth tens of millions of dollars, on behalf of Camel and Houthi-linked businessman Abdi Nasser Ali Mahmoud, who resides in Turkey.

Changtai Shipping Ltd. is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Cambodian government. KAPOK is being identified as blocked property in which Changtai Shipping Ltd. has an interest.

Similarly, Marshall Islands-based MotionNavigations Ltd. and UAE-based Indo Gulf Ship Management Ltd. acted as registered owners and operators, respectively, of a vessel used by the Camel Network to ship millions of dollars worth of Iranian fuel oil.

Motionavigations Limited is owned and operated by UAE-based Ukrainian national Yevhen Skryabin, as well as UAE-based companies Eco Max Trading FZE and Eco Max FZE . Eco Max Trading FZE was established in June 2019, and its subsidiary Eco Max FZE was registered in 2020 to operate its maritime business.

As part of this business, Eco Max FZE manages and operates several vessels, including the Cook Islands-flagged vessels MARBEL (IMO 9220938 ), TROPHY (IMO 9220940 ), and ONYX (IMO 9252400 ), and the Palau-flagged vessels LIANA (IMO 9236755 ), GRATIA (IMO 9260055 ), and JUVENIS (IMO 9260067 ). MARBEL , TROPHY , and LIANA have all been linked to illicit Iranian oil shipments.

Indian national Rahul Rattanlal and Ariko Rattanlal, who reside in the UAE and India, are the Managing Director of Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC . Rattanlal has held management positions at two US-designated companies, Safe Seas Ship Management FZE and Aurum Ship Management FZC , which have been involved in Iranian oil shipments on behalf of Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics ( MODAFL ) and the Camel Network.

Dipankar Mohan Keot (Keot), an Indian national based in Hong Kong and India, is the Technical Director of Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC . In this role, Keot is responsible for monitoring vessel operations, including budget and expenses of vessels under the supervision of Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC .

The vessel KUKKI is currently managed and operated by Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC and is flying the flag of Barbados ( IMO 9247388 ).

Motionavigations Limited and Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC are being designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Al-Jamal.

Yevhen Skryabin was designated pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224, as amended, for directly or indirectly owning or controlling a companyMotionavigations Limited.

Eco Max Trading FZE is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Yevhen Skriabin .

Eco Max FZE is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Eco Max Trading FZE . MARBEL , TROPHY , ONYX , LIANA , GRATIA , and JUVENIS are being identified pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, as being property in which Eco Max FZE has an interest.

Rahul Rattanlal, Ariko Rattanlal, and Dipankar Mohan Kiyot were designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC. Cookie has been identified as a property in which Indo Gulf Ship Management LLC has an interest.

Ship captains

The camel network relies not only on its system of companies, managers and ships to transport Iranian goods, but also on the individuals who oversee these shipments.

In mid-August, Iranian national Ali Barkhordar, while acting as captain of the U.S.-sanctioned vessels Yorgos, formerly known as the Ohr and Artur, conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with the U.S.-sanctioned Guyanese-flagged vessel Olympic, formerly known as the Lady Sophia, captained by Pakistani national Wahidullah Durrani, to load a sanctioned oil shipment on behalf of Al-Jamal.

Ali Barkhordar and Wahidullah Durrani are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Jamal.