Info:
Hokoul S.A.L. Offshore (Hokoul) and Talaqi Group are front companies run by Hizballah official al-Bazzal. Al-Bazzal has sought to continue operating his network since being designated by OFAC by purporting to transfer ownership of his companies, including Nagham al Hayat and Tawafuk. In early 2019, al-Bazzal sought to remove his name as an owner and shareholder from all company documents, presumably in order to evade U.S. sanctions;
Lebanon-based Hokoul supplies SYTROL with Iranian crude under IRGC-QF auspices. Al-Bazzal and other Hizballah officials have control over the contractual and financial obligations of Hokoul, while Ali Qasir represents Hokoul in negotiating its supply of Iranian crude to Syria. NITC vessels including the DELICE, the DESTINY, the HAPPINESS I, and the SINOPA transport such petroleum and petroleum products, and are identified pursuant to E.O. 13224 today as property in which Hokoul has an interest. Ali Qasir also is the managing director of Talaqi Group, which finances oil shipments for the IRGC-QF;
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on September 4, 2019 took action against a large shipping network that is directed by and financially supports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and its terrorist proxy Hizballah. Over the past year, the IRGC-QF has moved oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars or more through this network for the benefit of the brutal Assad regime, Hizballah, and other illicit actors. Senior IRGC-QF official and former Iranian Minister of Petroleum Rostam Qasemi oversees this sprawling network, which features dozens of ship managers, vessels, and facilitators. This complex network of intermediaries enables the IRGC-QF to obfuscate its involvement in selling Iranian oil. The IRGC-QF also relies heavily on Hizballah officials and front companies to broker associated contracts. OFAC also is issuing a new shipping advisory to the maritime community warning of these types of schemes and the sanctions risks associated with blocked persons;
Also Known As:
Hokoul S.A.L. Offshore
Hokoul
Hokoul SAL Offshore
Commercial Registry Number:
1808820 (Lebanon)
Country:
Lebanon
Address:
Beirut, Lebanon
Vessels linked to Hokoul SAL Offshore – added to OFAC’s SDN List:
DELICE Chemical/Products Tanker Panama flag
DESTINY (f.k.a. ULYSSES 1) Crude Oil Tanker Panama flag; Former Vessel Flag Liberia
DEVREZ Chemical/Products Tanker Panama flag
HAPPINESS I (f.k.a. HAPPINESS; f.k.a. HENGAM; f.k.a. LOYAL; f.k.a. TULAR) (T2ER4) Crude Oil Tanker 299,214DWT 160,930GRT Panama flag; Former Vessel Flag Malta; alt. Former Vessel Flag Tuvalu; alt. Former Vessel Flag Tanzania
SINOPA (f.k.a. DAISY; f.k.a. SUPERIOR; f.k.a. SUSANGIRD) (5IM584) Crude Oil Tanker 159,681DWT 81,479GRT Panama flag; Former Vessel Flag Malta
Reason for the color:
» Added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on September 4, 2019 pursuant to Executive Order 13224 today for being owned or controlled by Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal;
» Map of designated network;