The following persons:
RUBIO ZEA, Ana Gabriela, Guatemala; DOB 07 Jul 1990; POB Guatemala; nationality Guatemala; Gender Female; NIT # 60724218 (Guatemala); C.U.I. 1997455950101 (Guatemala) (individual) [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059].
WANG, Hongfei (Chinese Simplified: 王洪飞), China; DOB 02 Dec 1991; POB Hebei, China; nationality China; Email Address shuokangw@163.com; Gender Male; Digital Currency Address - XBT 3PKiHs4GY4rFg8dpppNVPXGPqMX6K2cBML; Phone Number 8615927270571; alt. Phone Number 8613313017588; alt. Phone Number 8615030111720; National ID No. 13053119911202021X (China) (individual) [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] (Linked To: WUHAN SHUOKANG BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD; Linked To: YAO, Huatao).
WU, Yaqin (Chinese Simplified: 吴雅琴), China; DOB 13 Nov 1992; POB Hubei, China; nationality China; Email Address lilywu921206@gmail.com; alt. Email Address furody@icloud.com; alt. Email Address 2390864901@qq.com; Gender Female; Phone Number 8615623932350; National ID No. 429004199211135144 (China) (individual) [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] (Linked To: YAO, Huatao).
WU, Yonghao (Chinese Simplified: 吴永昊), China; DOB 28 Jan 1992; POB Hubei, China; nationality China; National ID No. 429004199201280014 (China) (individual) [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] (Linked To: YAO, Huatao).
YAO, Huatao (Chinese Simplified: 姚华涛), China; DOB 16 Aug 1990; POB Hebei, China; nationality China; Gender Male; Phone Number 8618233039691; alt. Phone Number 862787366298; National ID No. 130531199008160212 (China) (individual) [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059].
and entities:
SUZHOU XIAOLI PHARMATECH CO., LTD (Chinese Simplified: 苏州小栗医药科技有限公司), Room 508, 5th Floor, Office Building, Joyshang Center, No. 88, Nanxijiang Road, Yuexi, Wuzhong District, Suzhou, Hubei, China (Chinese Simplified: 吴中区越溪南溪江路88号喜悦尚中心写字楼5层508室附近企业, 苏州市, 湖北, China); Website www.xiaolipharma.com; Organization Established Date 15 Feb 2017; Organization Type: Retail sale of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles in specialized stores; Registration Number 320506000647396 (China); Unified Social Credit Code (USCC) 91320506MA1NDQ9J4N (China) [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059].
WUHAN SHUOKANG BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD (Chinese Simplified: 武汉硕康生物科技有限公司), H05106, Building 1, No. 58, Guangxi Avenue, East Lake New Technology Development Zone, Wuhan, Hubei, China (Chinese Simplified: 东湖新技术开发区光⾕大道58号1栋H05106, 武汉, 湖北, China); Organization Established Date 25 May 2021; Organization Type: Retail sale of pharmaceutical and medical goods, cosmetic and toilet articles in specialized stores; Registration Number 420100001731665 (China); Unified Social Credit Code (USCC) 91420100MA49RQRJ87 (China) [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] (Linked To: YAO, Huatao).
were added to the SDN List under the counter narcotics trafficking sanctions program, under Executive Order 14059. Additionally, the following Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions designations were updated:
AKKERMAN CEMENT OOO (Cyrillic: АККЕРМАНН ЦЕМЕНТ ООО), Ulitsa Zapad, Zdanie 5, Novotritsk, Orenburg Region 462360, Russia; Organization Established Date 23 Oct 2022; Organization Type: Manufacture of articles of concrete, cement and plaster; Tax ID No. 5607015014 (Russia); Registration Number 1025600822510 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTYU KHOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA YUESEM). -to- AKKERMAN CEMENT OOO (Cyrillic: АККЕРМАНН ЦЕМЕНТ ООО), Ulitsa Zapad, Zdanie 5, Novotritsk, Orenburg Region 462360, Russia; Organization Established Date 23 Oct 2002; Organization Type: Manufacture of articles of concrete, cement and plaster; Tax ID No. 5607015014 (Russia); Registration Number 1025600822510 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTYU KHOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA YUESEM).
DITRIKH, Yevgeniy Ivanovich (Cyrillic: ДИТРИХ, Евгений Иванович) (a.k.a. DITRIH, Evgenii Ivanovich; a.k.a. DITRIKH, Evgeni Ivanovich); DOB 08 Sep 1973; POB Mytishchi, Moscow Region, Russia; nationality Russia; citizen Russia; Gender Male; Tax ID No. 772435431803 (Russia) (individual) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: JOINT STOCK COMPANY STATE TRANSPORTATION LEASING COMPANY). -to- DITRIKH, Yevgeniy Ivanovich (Cyrillic: ДИТРИХ, Евгений Иванович) (a.k.a. DITRIH, Evgenii Ivanovich; a.k.a. DITRIKH, Evgeni Ivanovich), Moscow, Russia; DOB 08 Sep 1973; POB Mytishchi, Moscow Region, Russia; nationality Russia; citizen Russia; Gender Male; Tax ID No. 772435431803 (Russia) (individual) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: JOINT STOCK COMPANY STATE TRANSPORTATION LEASING COMPANY).
GRIGORIEV, Grigoriy Igorevich (Cyrillic: ГРИГОРЬЕВ, Григорий Игоревич) (a.k.a. GRIGOREV, Girgorij Igorevich), Urovskaya, Building 95, Flat 7, Moscow 125466, Russia; DOB 19 Jun 0177; POB Istra, Russia; nationality Russia; Gender Male; Passport 721493424 (Russia); Tax ID No. 721493424 (Russia) (individual) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NOVELCO). -to- GRIGORIEV, Grigoriy Igorevich (Cyrillic: ГРИГОРЬЕВ, Григорий Игоревич) (a.k.a. GRIGOREV, Girgorij Igorevich), Urovskaya, Building 95, Flat 7, Moscow 125466, Russia; DOB 19 Jun 1977; POB Istra, Russia; nationality Russia; Gender Male; Passport 721493424 (Russia); Tax ID No. 501702148902 (Russia) (individual) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NOVELCO).
NEXIGN JOINT STOCK COMAPNY (Cyrillic: НЭКСАЙН АКЦИОНЕРНОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО) (a.k.a. "NEKSAIN AO"), d. 4 litera B pom. 22N, ul. Uralskaya, St. Petersburg 199155, Russia; Organization Established Date 03 Mar 1992; Organization Type: Other information technology and computer service activities; Tax ID No. 7801019126 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 11150642 (Russia); Registration Number 1027809251744 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY USM TELECOM). -to- NEXIGN JOINT STOCK COMPANY (Cyrillic: НЭКСАЙН АКЦИОНЕРНОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО) (a.k.a. "NEKSAIN AO"), d. 4 litera B pom. 22N, ul. Uralskaya, St. Petersburg 199155, Russia; Organization Established Date 03 Mar 1992; Organization Type: Other information technology and computer service activities; Tax ID No. 7801019126 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 11150642 (Russia); Registration Number 1027809251744 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY USM TELECOM).
SEQUOIA TREUHAND TRUST REG, Postrasse 2, Ruggell, LI-06 9491, Liechtenstein; Website https://sequoia.li; Organization Established Date 2007; Legal Entity Number 5299007BJ0JWBN3WVQ35; Registration Number FL-0002.222.366-2 (Liechtenstein) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: TIMCHENKO, Gennady Nikolayevich). -to- SEQUOIA TREUHAND TRUST REG, Poststrasse 2, Ruggell, LI-06 9491, Liechtenstein; Website https://sequoia.li; Organization Established Date 2007; Legal Entity Number 5299007BJ0JWBN3WVQ35; Registration Number FL-0002.222.366-2 (Liechtenstein) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: TIMCHENKO, Gennady Nikolayevich).
USM GOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (Cyrillic: ЮЭСЭМ ГОЛД OБЩЕСТВО С ОГРАНИЧЕННОЙ), d. 28 etazh 13 pom. 1 Kom. 21, shosse Rublevskoe, Moscow 121609, Russia; Organization Established Date 30 Nov 2021; Organization Type: Activities of holding companies; Tax ID No. 9731086049 (Russia); Registration Number 1217700580899 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTYU KHOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA YUESEM). -to- USM GOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (Cyrillic: ЮЭСЭМ ГОЛД OБЩЕСТВО С ОГРАНИЧЕННОЙ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТЬЮ), d. 28 etazh 13 pom. 1 Kom. 21, shosse Rublevskoe, Moscow 121609, Russia; Organization Established Date 30 Nov 2021; Organization Type: Activities of holding companies; Tax ID No. 9731086049 (Russia); Registration Number 1217700580899 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTYU KHOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA YUESEM).
USM METALLOINVEST LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (Cyrillic: ЮЭСЭМ МЕТАЛЛОИНВЕСТ ОБЩЕСТВО С ОГРАНИЧЕННОЙ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТЬЮ) (a.k.a. YUESEM METALLOINVEST OOO), d. 28 str. 3 pom. 12, ul. Povarksaya, Moscow 121069, Russia; Organization Established Date 17 Jun 2018; Organization Type: Activities of holding companies; Tax ID No. 7704882288 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 86555641 (Russia); Registration Number 514774643886 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTYU KHOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA YUESEM). -to- USM METALLOINVEST LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (Cyrillic: ЮЭСЭМ МЕТАЛЛОИНВЕСТ ОБЩЕСТВО С ОГРАНИЧЕННОЙ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТЬЮ) (a.k.a. YUESEM METALLOINVEST OOO), d. 28 str. 3 pom. 12, ul. Povarksaya, Moscow 121069, Russia; Organization Established Date 17 Jun 2018; Organization Type: Activities of holding companies; Tax ID No. 7704882288 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 86555641 (Russia); Registration Number 5147746438868 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTYU KHOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA YUESEM).
VASSILIADES & CO. MALTA LIMITED (a.k.a. VASSILIADES AND CO. MALTA LIMITED), 17 Macerata Street, Floriana FRN 1080, Malta; Registration Number C60982 (Malta) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: VASSILIADES, Christodoulos Georgiou). -to- VASSILIADES & CO. MALTA LIMITED (a.k.a. VASSILIADES AND CO. MALTA LIMITED), 17 Macerata Street, Floriana FRN 1080, Malta; Organization Established Date 27 Jun 2013; Registration Number C60982 (Malta) [RUSSIA-EO14024] (Linked To: VASSILIADES, Christodoulos Georgiou).
And the Treasury Department issued the following press release about the counter narcotics designations:
PRESS RELEASES
U.S. Sanctions Suppliers of Precursor Chemicals for Fentanyl Production
April 14, 2023
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two entities in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and five individuals, based in the PRC and Guatemala, for supplying precursor chemicals to drug cartels in Mexico for the production of illicit fentanyl intended for U.S. markets.
“Illicit fentanyl is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans each year,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Treasury, as part of the whole-of-government effort to respond to this crisis, will continue to vigorously apply our tools to prevent the transfer of precursor chemicals and machinery necessary to produce this drug.”
This action was carried out in partnership and close coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Justice.
DISRUPTING THE FLOW OF FENTANYL PRECURSOR CHEMICALS
Today, OFAC designated Wuhan Shuokang Biological Technology Co., Ltd (武汉硕康生物科技有限公司) (WSBT) and Yao Huatao (姚华涛) (Yao) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. Yao, a PRC national, is the sole owner of PRC-based chemical company WSBT—an entity responsible for the sale of fentanyl precursor chemicals—and, as its Executive Director, oversees the company’s operations. OFAC additionally designated WSBT for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Yao.
OFAC also sanctioned three additional PRC nationals for their association with WSBT. Wu Yaqin (吴雅琴) (Wu) and Wu Yonghao (吴永昊) (Yonghao), sales representatives of Yao’s company WSBT, not only negotiated and facilitated the sale of fentanyl precursor chemicals on the behalf of WSBT, but Wu also provided information on efficient preparation methods for synthesizing illicit fentanyl.Wang Hongfei (王洪飞) (Wang), a WSBT collaborator, is the owner of a cryptocurrency wallet that has been used to receive bitcoin payments for illicit drug transactions on behalf of WSBT.
On April 4, 2023, a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) indicted Yao, Wu, and Yonghao for various conspiracy charges including fentanyl importation and money laundering.
OFAC designated Wu and Yonghao pursuant to E.O. 14059 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Yao. OFAC additionally designated Wu and Yonghao pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
OFAC designated Wang pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having provided or attempted to provide, financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of WSBT and Yao.
In 2021, PRC-based chemical company Suzhou Xiaoli Pharmatech Co., Ltd (苏州小栗医药科技有限公司) (SXPC) shipped 25 kilograms of N-BOC-4-Piperidone (CAS No.: 79099-07-3), a fentanyl precursor chemical to Guadalajara, Mexico with an ultimate destination in Sinaloa, Mexico. At the time of the N-BOC-4-Piperidone sale, the SXPC sales representative was aware that it would be used for the purpose of aiding in the manufacturing of illicit fentanyl and/or fentanyl pills. The SXPC sales representative additionally noted that SXPC was a supplier of fentanyl precursor chemicals for Mexico-based narcotics traffickers.
OFAC designated SXPC pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
ILLICIT FENTANYL PRECURSOR BROKER IN GUATEMALA
Ana Gabriela Rubio Zea (Rubio Zea) is a Guatemala-based broker of fentanyl precursor chemicals who buys fentanyl precursor on behalf of Mexico-based drug traffickers. Rubio was the broker for the 25 kilograms of N-BOC-4-Piperidone, which was purchased from SXPC on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Rubio Zea has used her connections to PRC-based suppliers and chemical manufacturers to procure fentanyl precursor chemicals for the Sinaloa Cartel and to put Sinaloa Cartel traffickers in touch directly with those PRC-based suppliers, knowing that these chemicals would be used to manufacture fentanyl for ultimate distribution in the United States and elsewhere. Rubio Zea’s primary fentanyl precursor chemicals suppliers include sales representatives at PRC-based chemical companies WSBT and SXPC.
In addition, Rubio Zea uses her expertise and contacts to ensure the safe delivery of precursors without detection by customs officials in Mexico or other countries. For example, Rubio Zea arranged for chemicals to be disguised in food containers or packaged alongside legal chemicals to avoid detection.
OFAC designated Rubio Zea pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
On April 4, 2023, a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for SDNY indicted Rubio Zea for various conspiracy charges including fentanyl importation and money laundering. According to the indictment, Rubio Zea is directly connected to “Los Chapitos,” a reference to four sons of notorious Mexican drug lord, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera. Los Chapitos includes brothers Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, as well as their stepbrothers, Ovidio Guzman Lopez and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the first three of whom were indicted by SDNY.
As high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel—one of the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world—Los Chapitos are involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and violence. OFAC previously designated the Guzman Salazar brothers, as well as Ovidio Guzman Lopez, in 2012 pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The trio were designated again in 2021 pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
The U.S. Department of State’s Narcotics Reward Program announced reward offers from up to $1 million to up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of several targets indicted today, including Yao, Wu, Yonghao, and Zea. For Yao, Wu, Yonghao, submit tips via email to ChapitosTips@dea.gov via Whatsapp at 1-202-743-1066. For Zea, tips may be submitted via email to ChapitosTips@dea.gov.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
Today’s action is part of a whole-of-government effort to counter the global threat posed by the trafficking of illicit drugs into the United States that is causing the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans annually, as well as countless more non-fatal overdoses. This action demonstrates the Administration’s strengthened approach to saving lives by disrupting the trafficking of illicit fentanyl and its precursors into American communities. OFAC, in coordination OFAC, in coordination with its U.S. Government partners and foreign counterparts, will continue to target and pursue accountability for foreign illicit drug actors.
In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.
U.S. Treasury Department Press Release
Links:
Press Releases – Treasury