AFRICO 1 OFF-SHORE SAL

Africo 1 (Off-Shore) SAL became the registered owner of Jasmine tanker and ship manager of the vessel on February 26;

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Jasmine tanker is owned by Africo 1 (Off-Shore) SAL. Africo 1 (Off-Shore) SAL owners are: Marwan Ramadan, Bilal Atris and Khalid Deeb;

Sandro and Jasmine tankers have been turning off their location transponders and conducting transfers of the Iranian oil to or from other vessels off the Syrian coast. Iran’s regime uses these tactics regularly to evade U.S. sanctions;

Synergy SAL (Offshore) and Africo 1 (Off-Shore), both firms share the same address in downtown Beirut’s Al-Azarieh Building office complex, according to their corporate records. The National visited the address, a company providing virtual offices and co-working spaces. Neither Synergy SAL Offshore nor Sandro Overseas (Off Shore) were present at the location. Africo 1 (Off-Shore) also uses the Al-Azarieh Building as an address and was also not present at the office complex. In another indication of Mr Foz’s involvement, when The National phoned the number listed on a Synergy SAL Offshore letterhead, the recipient denied the number was for the company. Instead, the receptionist said the number belonged to a different Beirut-based firm that corporate records lists Mr Foz as a part-owner; (Source: The National, 8/11/2019). (https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/web-of-lebanese-companies-may-be-shipping-iranian-oil-to-syria-1.897168)

"Lebanon-based Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL assists in, sponsors, or provides financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Mehdi Group subsidiary Vaniya Ship Management by operating the tanker JASMINE for the network.  The JASMINE also is being identified today pursuant to E.O. 13224 as blocked property in which Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL has an interest." (U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Treasury Designates Vast Iranian Petroleum Shipping Network That Supports IRGC-QF and Terror Proxies," 9/4/2019). (https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm767)