Weekly News Digest - August 23

August 18 - International Criminal Court-related Designations; Venezuela-related Designation; Issuance of International Criminal Court-related General License. The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing International Criminal Court-related General License 12, "Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Certain Persons Blocked on August 18, 2026."

August 20 - Treasury Sanctions Major Ecuador-Based Cocaine Network Linked to Violent Gangs and Mexican Cartels. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 15 Ecuador-based targets and identified as blocked property 10 vessels involved in covertly shipping thousands of kilograms of cocaine each month from South America to Mexico, destined for distribution in the United States.

August 20 - Treasury Increases Sanctions on Hizballah and Targets Network Smuggling Millions in Cash for Hizballah. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating 10 individuals that are part of a network responsible for transferring cash to Hizballah. 

August 21 - Update to OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons; Issuance of Russia-related General License. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Russia-related General License 131I, "Authorizing Certain Transactions for the Negotiation of and Entry Into Contingent Contracts for the Sale of Lukoil International GmbH and Related Maintenance Activities." Amending two associated, Russia-related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs 1224 and 1225) and one Cuba-related Frequently Asked Question (FAQ 1265). Issuingh SDN list update. 

August 22 - Imposing Sanctions on Cuban Regime:  Imposing Sanctions on Cuban Regime Actors Associated with Marxist Subversive Networks and Corrupt Economic Dealings.