Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 25, 2024

Title 31 - Money and Finance: Treasury last revised: Nov 18, 2024
§ 598.300 - Applicability of definitions.

The definitions in this subpart apply throughout the entire part.

[86 FR 26668, May 17, 2021]
§ 598.301 -

The terms blocked account and blocked property shall mean any account or property subject to the prohibitions in § 598.202 held in the name of a specially designated narcotics trafficker, or in which such person has an interest, and with respect to which payments, transfers, exportations, withdrawals, or other dealings may not be made or effected except pursuant to a license or other authorization from OFAC expressly authorizing such action.

Note 1 to § 598.301:

See § 598.314 concerning the blocked status of property and interests in property of an entity that is directly or indirectly owned, whether individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more specially designated narcotics traffickers.

[86 FR 26668, May 17, 2021]
§ 598.302 - Effective date.

The term effective date refers to the effective date of the applicable prohibitions and directives of this part, which is December 3, 1999, or, in the case of specially designated narcotics traffickers designated after that date, the earlier of the date on which actual or constructive notice of such designation is received.

§ 598.303 - Entity.

The term entity means a partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, organization, network, group, or subgroup, or any form of business collaboration.

§ 598.304 - Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

The term Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act means the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, Pub. L. 106-120, title 8, 113 Stat. 1606, 1626-1636 (codified at 21 U.S.C. 1901-1908,8.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(C)).

§ 598.305 - Foreign person.

The term foreign person means any citizen or national of a foreign state, wherever located, or any entity not organized under the laws of the United States, but does not include a foreign state.

[86 FR 26668, May 17, 2021]
§ 598.306 - [Reserved]
§ 598.307 - Interest.

Except as otherwise provided in this part, the term interest when used with respect to property (e.g., an interest in property) means an interest of any nature whatsoever, direct or indirect.

§ 598.308 - Licenses; general and specific.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, the term license means any license or authorization contained in or issued pursuant to this part.

(b) The term general license means any license or authorization the terms of which are set forth in subpart E of this part or made available on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/ofac.

(c) The term specific license means any license or authorization issued pursuant to this part, but not set forth in subpart E of this part or made available on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/ofac.

Note 1 to § 598.308:

See § 501.801 of this chapter on licensing procedures.

[86 FR 26668, May 17, 2021]
§ 598.309 - Narcotic drug; controlled substance; listed chemical.

The terms narcotic drug, controlled substance, and listed chemical have the meanings given those terms in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802).

§ 598.310 - Narcotics trafficking.

The term narcotics trafficking means any illicit activity to cultivate, produce, manufacture, distribute, sell, finance, or transport narcotic drugs, controlled substances, or listed chemicals, or otherwise endeavor or attempt to do so, or to assist, abet, conspire, or collude with others to do so.

§ 598.311 - Person.

The term person means an individual or entity.

§ 598.312 - Property; property interest.

The terms property and property interest include but are not limited to money, checks, drafts, bullion, bank deposits, savings accounts, debts, indebtedness, obligations, notes, guarantees, debentures, stocks, bonds, coupons, any other financial instruments, bankers acceptances, mortgages, pledges, liens or other rights in the nature of security, warehouse receipts, bills of lading, trust receipts, bills of sale, any other evidences of title, ownership, or indebtedness, letters of credit and any documents relating to any rights or obligations thereunder, powers of attorney, goods, wares, merchandise, chattels, stocks on hand, ships, goods on ships, real estate mortgages, deeds of trust, vendors' sales agreements, land contracts, leaseholds, ground rents, real estate and any other interest therein, options, negotiable instruments, trade acceptances, royalties, book accounts, accounts payable, judgments, patents, trademarks or copyrights, insurance policies, safe deposit boxes and their contents, annuities, pooling agreements, services of any nature whatsoever, contracts of any nature whatsoever, and any other property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible or intangible, or interest or interests therein, whether present, future, or contingent.

§ 598.313 - Significant foreign narcotics trafficker.

The term significant foreign narcotics trafficker means any foreign person that plays a significant role in international narcotics trafficking that the President has determined to be appropriate for sanctions and has publicly identified under section 804(b) or section 804(h)(1) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

[86 FR 26668, May 17, 2021]
§ 598.314 - Specially designated narcotics trafficker.

The term specially designated narcotics trafficker means:

(a) Significant foreign narcotics traffickers; and

(b) Foreign persons designated by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State, because they are found to be:

(1) Materially assisting in, or providing financial or technological support for or to, or providing goods or services in support of, the international narcotics trafficking activities of a specially designated narcotics trafficker;

(2) Owned, controlled, or directed by, or acting for or on behalf of, a specially designated narcotics trafficker; or

(3) Playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking; and

(c) Entities owned in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more specially designated narcotics traffickers.

Note 1 to § 598.314:

The names of persons determined to fall within paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition, whose property and interests in property therefore are blocked pursuant to this part, are published in the Federal Register and incorporated into OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) with the identifier “[SDNTK].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on OFAC's website: www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in Appendix A to this chapter. Entities that fall within paragraph (c) of this section are also persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this part, regardless of whether they are identified by OFAC or appear on the SDN List.

Note 2 to § 598.314:

The Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901-1908), in Section 806 (21 U.S.C. 1905), authorizes the blocking of property and interests in property of a person during the pendency of an investigation. Except as described in note 3 to this section, the names of persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pending investigation pursuant to this part are published in the Federal Register and incorporated into the SDN List with the identifier “[BPI-SDNTK].”

Note 3 to § 598.314:

In certain cases, OFAC may issue an order to: identify as blocked specific property or interests in property of a specially designated narcotics trafficker; block specific property or interests in property of a person pending investigation; or block or impose other prohibitions with respect to specific property or interests in property less than full blocking sanctions. Notice of such orders will be provided: by publication in the Federal Register; in writing to persons OFAC may assess to have an interest in the property; or by issuing an order or directive in writing to financial institutions or other transaction intermediaries, and requiring the recipient of the order or directive to promptly disclose it to affected persons with whom the recipient maintains direct commercial relationships. Inquiries regarding any such order should be directed to OFAC's Compliance Division at 202-622-2490 or https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac.

Note 4 to § 598.314:

Subpart E of part 501 of this chapter describes the procedures to be followed for the unblocking of property and interests in property blocked pursuant to this section, including funds blocked due to mistaken identity or typographical or similar errors, and for administrative reconsideration of one's status as a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this part.

[86 FR 26668, May 17, 2021, as amended at 89 FR 75968, Sept. 17, 2024]
§ 598.315 - [Reserved]
§ 598.316 - Transfer.

The term transfer means any actual or purported act or transaction, whether or not evidenced by writing, and whether or not done or performed within the United States, the purpose, intent, or effect of which is to create, surrender, release, convey, transfer, or alter, directly or indirectly, any right, remedy, power, privilege, or interest with respect to any property. Without limitation upon the foregoing, the term transfer includes the making, execution, or delivery of any assignment, power, conveyance, check, declaration, deed, deed of trust, power of attorney, power of appointment, bill of sale, mortgage, receipt, agreement, contract, certificate, gift, sale, affidavit, or statement; the making of any payment; the setting off of any obligation or credit; the appointment of any agent, trustee, or fiduciary; the creation or transfer of any lien; the issuance, docketing, filing, or levy of or under any judgment, decree, attachment, injunction, execution, or other judicial or administrative process or order; the service of any garnishment; the acquisition of any interest of any nature whatsoever by reason of a judgment or decree of any foreign country; the fulfillment of any condition; the exercise of any power of appointment, power of attorney, or other power; or the acquisition, disposition, transportation, importation, exportation, or withdrawal of any security.

§ 598.317 - United States.

The term United States means the United States, its territories and possessions, and all areas under the jurisdiction or authority thereof.

§ 598.318 - United States person; U.S. person.

The term United States person or U.S. person means any United States citizen or national, permanent resident alien, an entity organized under the laws of the United States (including its foreign branches), or any person within the United States.

§ 598.319 - U.S. financial institution.

The term U.S. financial institution means any U.S. entity (including a foreign branch) that is engaged in the business of accepting deposits, making, granting, transferring, holding, or brokering loans or credits, or purchasing or selling foreign exchange, securities, commodity futures or options, as principal or agent. This terms includes but is not limited to depository institutions, banks, savings banks, trust companies, securities brokers and dealers, commodity futures and options brokers and dealers, forward contract and foreign exchange merchants, securities and commodities exchanges, clearing corporations, investment companies, employee benefit plans, and U.S. holding companies, U.S. affiliates, or U.S. subsidiaries of any of the foregoing. This term includes those branches, offices, and agencies of foreign financial institutions which are located in the United States, but not such institutions' foreign branches, offices, or agencies.

§ 598.320 - Finance.

The term finance includes engaging in any transaction involving funds, other assets, property, or interest in property, that are derived, obtained, or retained from, directly or indirectly, narcotic drugs, controlled substances, or listed chemicals. This includes the transporting, transmitting, or transferring of any such assets, property, or interests in property that creates the appearance that the funds, assets, or property were legitimately acquired, furthers the illicit activity, conceals or disguises the assets, avoids reporting requirements, or otherwise promotes the carrying on of illicit activity, such as money laundering.

Note 1 to § 598.320:

The definition of finance listed above is specific to this part and not any other parts of Chapter 31. See § 598.101.

[86 FR 26669, May 17, 2021]
§ 598.321 - OFAC.

The term OFAC means the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

[86 FR 26669, May 17, 2021]
authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 21 U.S.C. 1901-1908; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as amended (28 U.S.C. 2461 note)
source: 65 FR 41336, July 5, 2000, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 31 CFR 598.300