TITLE: US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control Issues Cyber-related General License and Updates Sanctions Designations
BODY:
On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Cyber-related General License 2, "Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving Anco Water Supply Co. Ltd. Related to the Treatment and Distribution of Drinking Water." This general license permits specified transactions with the designated entity that would otherwise be prohibited under OFAC sanctions programmes.
Concurrently, OFAC updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), adding 14 individuals and 38 entities across multiple jurisdictions. Designations were made under counter-narcotics and cyber-related sanctions authorities. Individuals designated under counter-narcotics authorities include drug trafficking suspects from Mexico, Guatemala, and India, with several linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. Cyber-related designations targeted individuals and entities primarily based in Cambodia, with connections to illicit financial activities and money laundering networks. Designated entities include financial institutions, real estate companies, hotels, casinos, transportation and logistics firms, and pharmaceutical wholesalers. Several entities were designated as linked to designated individuals, establishing networks of related economic actors.
The designations reflect OFAC's ongoing efforts to target transnational criminal networks and cyber-enabled financial crimes. The issuance of the cyber-related general license for Anco Water Supply Co. Ltd. permits humanitarian-related transactions involving essential services, demonstrating OFAC's approach to balancing sanctions enforcement with critical infrastructure needs. Entities and individuals engaging in transactions with designated parties face potential civil and criminal penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and related statutes.
REFERENCES:
Office of Foreign Assets Control. (2026, April 23). Counter Terrorism, Counter Narcotics, and Cyber-related Designations; Issuance of Cyber-related General License. U.S. Department of the Treasury. https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions