The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning ten individuals, entities, and vessels across multiple jurisdictions for engaging in the illicit transport of oil and other commodities, including for Houthi financial facilitator Sa’id al-Jamal.
As explained, this action, the seventh round of sanctions targeting the network of Sa’id al-Jamal since October 2023, underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to isolating and disrupting the financing of international terrorist groups such as the Houthis.
The Houthis continue to leverage an expansive support network to facilitate their illicit activities, including hiding the origin of cargo, forging shipping documents, and providing services to sanctioned vessels.
…said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “As we demonstrated with our military strikes last week, the United States government is committed to disrupting and degrading the Houthis’ ability to engage in attacks against commercial shipping and naval vessels, as well as target those who seek to facilitate these activities.”
Since November, Iranian-backed Houthis have conducted numerous drone and missile attacks on commercial and Navy vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to support Hamas in Gaza. This has led shipping lines to reroute vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.
Hothi Shipments
Houthi financier Sa’id al-Jamal, who goes by the Chinese alias “Caihong” (彩虹), or “Rainbow,” relies on a network of foreign shipping firms to sell and transport commodities to China, Syria, and other jurisdictions. United Arab Emirates (UAE)- and Oman-based Shark International Shipping L.L.C, under the leadership of its managing director John Britto Aruldhas, has worked with the Sa’id al-Jamal network to furnish forged shipping documents for vessels shipping commodities on behalf of the Houthis.
OFAC is designating Sa’id al-Jamal’s Yemen-based nephew ‘Abdallah Najib Ahmad al-Jamal (‘Abdallah al-Jamal), who manages money laundering operations for the Sa’id al-Jamal network. ‘Abdallah al-Jamal works with U.S.-designated money launderer Bilal Hudroj and sanctioned Yemeni exchange houses Davos Company for Exchange and Transfers and Al-Rawda Exchange and Money Transfers Company to move funds on behalf of Sa’id al-Jamal. ‘Abdallah al-Jamal has handled millions of dollars’ worth of currency that has been transferred to Yemen as part of these money laundering operations.
