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The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting a defense procurement network, allegedly led by Belgium-based businessman Hans De Geetere and involving multiple companies across Cyprus, Sweden, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.

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The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified De Geetere as the leader of this network, which is accused of procuring electronics for military use by Russian entities. “Today’s coordinated action reflects our collective commitment to enforcing our sanctions and export controls, including holding accountable those who seek to evade these measures,” said Brian E. Nelson, Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

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According to the Treasury Department, the network includes nine entities and five individuals based in Russia, Belgium, Cyprus, Sweden, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. Among the sanctioned entities are Belgium-based Knokke Heist Support Corporation Management, Cyprus-based Eriner, The Mother Ark, and Netherlands-based European Trading Technology, all operated by De Geetere. Additionally, the Treasury designated companies linked to Eriner and The Mother Ark, including M and S Trading in Hong Kong and others in Cyprus and the Netherlands, as part of De Geetere’s operations.

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Tom De Geetere, Hans’s brother, was also implicated as the founder and leader of European Technical Trading (ETT) in Belgium, which is involved in procurement efforts for drone engines. Russian national Vladimir Kulemekov, previously employed by De Geetere and identified as a member of Russia’s military intelligence, was also sanctioned.

These sanctions entail freezing any US-held assets of the individuals and entities and generally prohibit US persons from engaging with them. In addition, the US Department of Justice unsealed indictments against De Geetere related to this network, and the Department of Commerce added De Geetere and five entities to its entity list, intensifying the crackdown on this procurement network.

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