International Trade Law News

In the fourth tranche of recent actions taken against members of the former Hussein regime, the United States today designated three individuals and one front company pursuant to Executive Order 13315. The United States has now designated 232 Iraqi-related entities and individuals, comprised of 191 parastatals, 30 individuals and 11 front companies.

Today's designations by the Treasury Department include Bloto International Co., a Bangkok-based company serving as a front for the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS), along with its owner and director, a former IIS officer suspected of planning attacks in January 2003 against U.S. citizens in Thailand. The designations also include two Iraqi ambassadors who are said to have used their senior positions to engage in a variety of illicit activities ranging from the financing of foreign anti-Coalition fighters during Operation Iraqi Freedom to the embezzlement of regime funds.

Today's action is taken pursuant to Executive Order 13315 which blocks property and interests in property of senior officials of the former Iraqi regime within the possession or control of U.S. persons. The United States is also submitting the names of these individuals and associated companies to the U.N. with the recommendation they be listed by the 1518 Committee under U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1483. UNSCR 1483 requires U.N. member states to identify, freeze and transfer to the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) assets of senior officials of the former Iraqi regime and their immediate family members, including entities owned or controlled by them or by persons acting on their behalf.