Individuals, companies and ships.. New US sanctions target commercial networks supporting the Houthis and Hezbollah

ARTURA (IMO: 9150365), which was responsible for shipping goods for Saeed El Gamal, to reflect its name change to OHAR .

Revenues from the camel network help fund the Houthis’ reckless targeting of Red Sea shipping and civilian infrastructure, with dire consequences for both the region and the international community.

“Today’s action underscores our continued commitment to disrupting Iran’s primary source of funding for its regional terrorist proxies, such as Lebanese Hizballah and the Houthis,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith. “Our message is clear: those who seek to fund these groups’ destabilizing activities will be held accountable.”

In addition to today’s actions targeting the Saeed El-Jamal network, OFAC also designated Hong Kong-based Kai Heng Long Global Energy Limited for its role in shipping tens of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian LPG for the benefit of Lebanese Hezbollah, and identified four vessels owned and operated by the company as blocked property.

Today’s action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended. OFAC designated Saeed al-Jamal pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, on June 10, 2021, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF.

OFAC designated the IRGC-QF pursuant to Executive Order 13224 on October 25, 2007, for providing material support to multiple terrorist groups. The U.S. Department of State’s designation of Ansar Allah (also known as the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist ( SDGT)), pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224, as amended, effective February 16, 2024.

Houthi shipping

Saeed al-Jamal and his network rely on a range of shipping companies, vessels, and brokers to enable the sale and shipment of Iranian goods, including oil and petroleum products, in order to generate revenue for the Houthis and the IRGC-QF.

The Palau-flagged LPG tanker LPG OM (IMO: 9160475 ), owned and operated by KDS Shipping Limited registered in the Marshall Islands, carried multiple cargoes on behalf of Saeed El Gamal.

Similarly, the Palau-flagged LNG tanker RAHA GAS (IMO: 8818219 ), owned by Marshall Islands-registered Arafat Shipping Company , shipped millions of dollars of LNG falsely identified as loaded in the UAE to Yemen on behalf of the Camel Network.

Indian national Arif Ibrahim Khoo is the captain of the RAHA GAS vessel and is managing the LNG shipment to Yemen. The UAE-based Houthi-affiliated ONX Trading FZE has facilitated illicit payments related to the Camel Network’s cargo operations.

KDS Shipping Limited , Arafat Shipping Company , Arif Ibrahim Khot , and ONX Trading FZE 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, Saeed Al Jamal. LPG OM is being identified as being owned by KDS Shipping Limited . RAHA GAS is being identified as being owned by Arafat Shipping Company .

In addition, the Palau-flagged product tanker DIVINE POWER (IMO: 9171357 ), owned and operated by DP Shipping Limited , registered in the Marshall Islands, shipped millions of dollars worth of fuel oil to the UAE on behalf of the Camel Network.

DIVINE POWER engaged in ship-to-ship ( STS ) transfers with US-sanctioned MEHLE (IMO: 9191711 ) to facilitate fuel shipments on behalf of the network. MEHLE was sanctioned on January 12, 2024 for its role in the shipments on behalf of Saeed El Gamal.

DP Shipping Limited 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, Saeed Al-Jamal. Divine Power is identified as property in which DP Shipping Limited has an interest.

Saeed Aljamal’s network relies on a variety of foreign shipping agents to facilitate shipments abroad. Malaysia-based Transmarine Navigation (M) SDN. BHD. (Transmarine ) provided forged documents for the US-sanctioned vessel DAWN II (IMO: 9185530 ), which falsely showed that the goods on board were of Malaysian rather than Iranian origin.

Transmarine was also involved in transporting Iranian goods on the US-sanctioned vessel RENEEZ (IMO: 9232450 ) on behalf of Saeed Aljamal. Similarly, UAE-based KFD General Trading LLC helped Aljamal arrange the shipment of Iranian goods to the People’s Republic of China.

Trans Marine Corporation and KFD General Trading 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, Saeed Al-Jamal.

LPG shipments to Hezbollah

Hong Kong-based Kai Hing Long Global Energy Limited is the ship manager, operator and registered owner of the Eswatini-flagged LPG tanker FENGSHUN (IMO: 9007386 ), formerly known as VENUS 7 , as well as the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged LPG tanker VICTORIA (IMO: 9113379 ), the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged LPG tanker LADY LIBERTY (IMO: 9005065 ), and the Panama-flagged LPG tanker PARVATI (IMO: 8519966 ), all of which shipped Iranian LPG.

The Lebanese Hezbollah-controlled Talaqi Group used the MV Fengshun and MV Victoria to ship tens of millions of dollars worth of LPG from Iran to the People’s Republic of China. In early July 2024, the MV Fengshun conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with the MV Victoria in Singapore, which ultimately delivered the cargo to the People’s Republic of China.

The U.S. Department of State designated Hezbollah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224 on October 31, 2001. The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Talaqi Group under Executive Order 13224 on September 4, 2019 for being owned or controlled by Lebanese Hezbollah official Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal.

Al-Bazzal was designated pursuant to Executive Order 13224 on November 20, 2018, for acting on behalf of Lebanese Hizballah to oversee the operations of multiple front companies, such as the Talaqi Group, that allow Lebanese Hizballah to transport and sell Iranian petroleum products and other goods for profit.

Kai Heng Long Global Energy Limited 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 Group. Talaqi . FENGSHUN , VICTORIA , LADY LIBERTY and PARVATI are identified as properties in which Kai Heng Long Global Energy Limited has an interest.