Tanker involved in illicit trade to be seized by US
The United States Government has moved to seize Cameroon-flagged oil tanker it says is involved in illicit trade with North Korea.
The United States is seeking to seize the M/T Courageous, which it says is involved with illicit trade with North Korea, in violation of US and UN sanctions.
A civil forfeiture complaint has been lodged that alleges that a Singapore national conspired to evade economic sanctions against North Korea and was involved in money laundering.
The complaint charges that the 3,900 dwt tanker stopped transmitting location information over a four-month period between August and December 2019, and flew a false flag to confuse observers.
During that time US surveillance imagery shows that the M/T Courageous engaged in a ship-to-ship transfer of more than $1.5m worth of oil to a North Korean ship.
The vessel was taken into custody in Cambodia on 2020 and remains there pending the outcome of the case.
“The seizure of the Courageous is another step in sinking North Korea’s efforts to circumvent sanctions on the high seas,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers. “The United States will continue to enforce sanctions on North Korea through civil forfeiture actions and criminal prosecutions to ensure that the North Korean government – and the private entities that enable this regime by prioritizing personal profit over global security – are held accountable.”
