Office of Foreign Assets Control

United States
Raymond Rahme, major figure in the Dale Stoffel case, sanctioned by the US

In early April, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Raymond Rahme for alleged corruption. The Lebanese entrepreneur was the business partner of American arms dealer Dale Stoffel, who was murdered near Baghdad in 2004, and whose family has launched a legal case against Iraq that remains ongoing.

Spotlight | Russia, Saudi Arabia
Ajlan & Bros looks to supply Russian electronic warfare tools to Saudi Arabian intelligence

Sepha, founded by Saudi conglomerate Ajlan & Bros to do business with the Russian defence industry, is putting together a catalogue of Russian-built electronic warfare tools, which it is hoping to supply to the Saudi intelligence services.

Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine
Partners Aero Vodochody and Omnipol torn over Ukraine strategy

The Czech manufacturer of the L-39 fighter jet Aero Vodochody has kept a back seat on Ukraine, largely because of its majority shareholders' ties with Hungarian leader Viktor Orban. Its other shareholder however, the Czech group Omnipol, is actively providing its wares to Ukraine's armed forces.

France, Saudi Arabia
Nicolas Sarkozy visits the al-Ajlans, a Saudi family under US surveillance for links to China and Russia

Former French president turned consultant Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday paid a visit to Ajlan bin Abdulaziz al-Ajlan, head of the family-run conglomerate Ajlan & Bros, on the sidelines of his visit to Riyadh.

China, Saudi Arabia, United States
Saudi Ajlan & Bros eyes Chinese Norinco's observation satellites

After axing Scopa Industries' US projects, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Ajlan now has free rein to team with China's US-sanctioned defence industry.

China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States
Scopa turns away from US and towards Moscow and Beijing, OFAC warned

The Saudi defence firm has abruptly brought all of its operations for the US to an end. Despite clinching a raft of deals with major US and European firms, Scopa has decided to favour a rapprochement between its parent company Ajlan & Bros and Russian and Chinese firms instead.

The Intelligence Gazette
Shin Bet denied, Putin happy with envoys in Finland, Beijing changes military judicial system, FSB monitors IT operators, OFAC expands scope, French alcohol in Riyadh

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Aqaba to Moscow via Helsinki, Washington, Paris, Riyadh and Beijing.

Israel/Jordan Shin Bet boss caught out in Aqaba

Russia/Finland Putin rewards his envoys to Finland

China Xi prepares for possible war with changes to military legal system

Russia FSB steps up surveillance of IT operators

United States OFAC works towards better public-private interaction

France/Arabia Tensions over alcohol supply chains

Spotlight | Russia, UAE, United States
Washington wants Dubai-Russia trade route to end

The United Arab Emirates has become an export hub for goods into sanctioned Russia, and the US is trying to convince Dubai customs to put a stop to it.

Central Asia, UAE
Seitnepesov connects Gulf shipping companies to Caspian oil players

Businessman Murat Seitnepesov, who has worked in Central Asia for many years, is partnering with Gulf port operators looking to establish themselves in the region.

Spotlight | China, Russia
Chinese zero-day hunters skirt restrictions via Russian platforms

Increasing numbers of Chinese vulnerability researchers are selling their findings via specialised Russian platforms, in the context of stricter regulation of the sector in China. The emerging trend also puts China's ability to collect zero days via cohorts of disciplined hackers into perspective.

Belarus
Belarusian facial recognition company set to get a hearing before the EU Court of Justice

Belarusian facial recognition firm Synesis has been fighting for 18 months against an EU decision to sanction it for its alleged role in the repression of protests against the election of Alexander Lukashenko in August 2020.

Kazakhstan, United States
Lobbyists and investigators push for US sanctions against Kazakh ex-president Nazarbayev's circle

After the US midterms and the presidential elections in Kazakhstan, lobbyist Joseph Szlavik is stepping up efforts to have sanctions imposed on the ex-president's brother Bolat Nazarbayev.

Moldova, Russia
Moldovan intelligence ups its game in the face of Russian infiltration

With the Russia-Ukraine war unfolding on its doorstep, the small ex-Soviet state, which has just applied for EU membership, is bracing for disruption. Its security services are stepping up anti-corruption and anti-disinformation efforts against Russian infiltration in the country.

The Corporate Intelligence Village Voice
Spottiswoode goes to FTI, Exiger hires ex-BACB, Sanction Scanner in US and Chiron head writes book

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: each week, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community. This week, we go to New York, London, Paris and Istanbul.

LondonJocelyn Spottiswoode poached by FTI.

New York/LondonExiger Diligence hires AML expert Saba Ahmad.

Washington/IstanbulTurkish Sanction Scanner to screen potential sanctioned persons from US.

ParisHead of security firm Chiron publishes autobiography on former life as paratrooper.

Kazakhstan, United States
US private investigators home in on ex-president Nazarbayev's brother

A group of US lawyers and consultants are aiming to have OFAC sanctions placed on the former president's younger brother Bolat Nazarbayev, who is already under close watch from the Russian and Kazakh intelligence services.

Belarus, UAE, United States
US lobbyists help Belarusian ex-arms czar keep sanctions at bay

The former owner of arms group BelTech, Vladimir Peftiev, who claims to now be enjoying his retirement, still has a team of top-notch lobbyists in the US working to downplay his politically sensitive activities and protect him from sanctions.

Spotlight | Europe, Russia, Ukraine, United States
Under pressure from Kyiv and Washington, Moscow rows hard to keep its industries afloat

Besides their political function, Western sanctions against Moscow have taken on high stakes for security - both for NATO analysts seeking to assess the potential resilience of Russia's strategic industries and for Ukraine, which is keeping a close eye on Russia's emerging alternative trade routes.