Treasury Sanctions Maritime Fraud Network Supporting Iran's Shadow Fleet
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on November 4 that, as part of Operation Economic Outcast, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned the maritime fraud network run by India-based Suniel Kumar Sharma and his spouse Jaspreet Preeti Shahid. Treasury said the network provided false flags and certifications to sanctioned vessels transporting Iranian petroleum, including vessels operating on behalf of the Iranian military and its proxies, helping Iran's shadow fleet evade international regulation.
Treasury said falsely flagged vessels carry no valid protection and indemnity insurance and could cause billions of dollars in damage to the economies of countries in whose waters they operate. Websites tied to the Sharma network purported to offer flagging, seafarer certification and vessel classification services on behalf of jurisdictions including Aruba, Guyana, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Sint Maarten and Timor-Leste. Oceaniek Technologies India, where Sharma is managing director, provided false flags to sanctioned oil carriers including LATTAFA, BINARY STAR and VERA. OFAC also sanctioned Türkiye-based Fugo Ground Services Inc for continuing to service Iran's aviation sector, with service agreements covering several sanctioned Iranian airlines including Iran Air Tour, Saha, Sepehran, Varesh, Taban and Ata.
"As we have said many times, under Operation Economic Outcast, you are either with us or against us," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "We know where you are, and we will sanction those who continue supporting the Iranian regime, whether by land, sea, or air." The designations, taken under Executive Order 13902, cover the Sharma couple, Eswatini Maritime, Oceaniek, Aryavart Ship Management, several other India-based entities and two nominal directors; their U.S. assets are blocked and U.S. persons are barred from dealing with them. Treasury also issued a new industry alert on the sanctions risks of dealing with potentially falsely flagged vessels.
(Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury)
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国财政部大楼正面。Sealy j 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The U.S. Treasury Building. Photo by Sealy j, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
