Yesterday, OFAC added one person:
ASPERMAN, Joe, Syria; DOB 1987; alt. DOB 1986; alt. DOB 1988; POB Cannes Region, France; Gender Male (individual) [SDGT].
and one entity:
KATIBAT AL-IMAM AL-BUKHARI (a.k.a. IMAM AL-BUKHARI BATTALION; a.k.a. IMAM AL-BUKHORIY BRIGADE; a.k.a. IMAM BUKHARI BATTALION; a.k.a. IMAM BUKHARI JAMAAT; a.k.a. IMAM BUKHORI JAMAAT; a.k.a. IMOM BUXORIY KATIBASI; a.k.a. KATIBATUL IMOM AL-BUXORIY; a.k.a. “IBB”; a.k.a. “KIB”), Aleppo, Syria; Afghanistan [SDGT].
to its counter terrorism sanctions. Additionally, it modified the following existing designation, which is actually under the Venezuela program (despite the page title on OFAC’s site):
LEPAJE SALAZAR, Nelson Reinaldo, Aragua, Venezuela; DOB 24 Apr 1969; citizen Venezuela; Gender Male; Cedula No. 10049353 (Venezuela); Passport 064906043 (Venezuela) expires 12 Jan 2016; alt. Passport 009551291(Venezuela) expires 04 Mar 2013; Acting in the Capacity of the Head of the Office of the National Treasury (individual) [VENEZUELA]. -to- LEPAJE SALAZAR, Nelson Reinaldo, Aragua, Venezuela; DOB 24 Apr 1969; citizen Venezuela; Gender Male; Cedula No. 10049353 (Venezuela); Passport 064906043 (Venezuela) expires 12 Jan 2016; alt. Passport 009551291 (Venezuela) expires 04 Mar 2013; Acted in the Capacity of the Head of the Office of the National Treasury (individual) [VENEZUELA].
And there were two press releases from the State Department – first, this one about Jan Asperman:
State Department Terrorist Designation of Joe Asperman
Media Note
Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCMarch 22, 2018
The Department of State has designated Joe Asperman as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. E.O. 13224 imposes sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. This designation seeks to deny Asperman the resources he needs to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks. Among other consequences, all of his property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with him.
French national Joe Asperman is a senior chemical weapons expert for ISIS. Asperman oversaw chemical operations production within Syria for ISIS and the deployment of these chemical weapons at the battlefront.
Today’s actions notify the U.S. public and the international community that Asperman has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism. Terrorism designations expose and isolate organizations and individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of U.S. agencies and other governments.
and this second one:
State Department Terrorist Designation of Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari
Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCMarch 22, 2018
The Department of State has designated Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari (KIB) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. E.O. 13224 imposes strict sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. This designation seeks to deny KIB the resources it needs to plan and carry out further terrorist attacks. Among other consequences, all of the group’s property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the group.
Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari is the largest Uzbek fighting force in Syria. The group has played a significant role in the fighting in northwestern Syria, fighting alongside groups including al-Nusrah Front – al-Qa’ida’s affiliate in Syria and a State Department designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT group. In April 2017, KIB published a video showing armed men taking part in clashes, and in December 2015, posted a video of a training camp for children, where children are taught to handle and fire weapons.
about the new designations.
Links:
State Department Press Releases – Jan Asperman designation, Katibat Al-Imam Al-Bukhari designation
