The United States treasury department has informed Bangladesh about some individuals and entities involved in the acts of jeopardising the international financial system, sources said.
Recently, the US embassy in Dhaka in a letter informed the ministry of foreign affairs of Bangladesh about publicly revealing the identities of the persons and entities related to the Brothers' Circle transnational criminal organisation (TCO) by the US Treasury Department.
The foreign ministry has forwarded the letter to the ministry of home affairs and the finance ministry to suitably update the US treasury department on any actions which the government may take on this issue.
"The US has a strong interest in working collaboratively with the government of Bangladesh to safeguard the international financial system from the threat posed by the TCOs, and would welcome information on the Brothers' Circle and these TCO-related entities and individuals," the embassy wrote in the letter.
The letter mentioned the names of Lyalin Vadim Mikhaylovich, Shlykov Igor Leonidovich, Badalyan Artur, Lepsveridze Grigory Victorovich, Rybalskiy Yakov, Moskalenko Sergey Yevgeniyevich, MS Group Invest OOO, Meridian Jet Management GMBH, Fasten Tourism LLC, and Gurgen House FZCO as members of the transnational criminal organisation.
These individuals and organisations came under the scanner of US treasury department as they work for Vladislav Leontyev, a Russian gangster linked to drug trafficking, embezzlement, fraud, extortion and car theft.
The administration of the United States imposed sanctions on Vladislav Leontyev as a central figure in Brothers' Circle TCO in 2012.
According to the letter, Vadim Lyalin serves as a conduit for passing message while Grigory Lepsveridze couriers on behalf of Vladislav Leontyev.
It said Igor Shlykov has worked to develop business opportunities in Africa and promised to get identification documents for Vladislav Leontyev. Igor Shlykov also owns or controls MS Group Invest OOO and Meridian Jet Management GMBH. He is director general of the MS Group Invest OOO and owns 60 per cent of Meridian Jet Management GMBH.
Lazar Shaybazian was 'designated' by the US treasury department on February 23, 2012 for acting for or on behalf of Vladislav Leontyev. He owns Gurgen House FZCO and uses the company to move money.
The letter also mentioned that Gafur Rakhimov is a key member of the Brothers' Circle who was 'designated' by the treasury department on February 23, 2012.
"He is one of the leaders of Uzbek organised crime with a specialty in the organised production of drugs in the countries of Central Asia. He has operated major international drug syndicates involving the trafficking of heroin."
The treasury department also targeted Sergey Moskalenko and Yakov Rybalskiy as they act on behalf of Gafur Rakhimov.
Sergey Moskalenko develops business opportunities such as attending meetings and gathering information, while Yakov Rybalskiy keeps Gafur Rakhimov informed of problems and works to resolve financial issues.
According to the US state department website, the Congress has established the Transnational Organised Crime Rewards Program in 2013 as a tool to assist the US government in identifying and bringing to justice members of significant transnational criminal organisations.
The White House Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime recognises that transnational criminal networks are not only expanding in size and scope, but also diversifying their illicit activities.
US warns BD of gang out to weaken int\\\'l financial system
Syful Islam | Published: December 02, 2013 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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