The United States Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated the alleged founders of Kongra-Gel, Cemil Bayik and Duran Kalkan, as well as alleged leaders of that organization, Remzi Kartal, Sabri Ok and Adem Uzun, as Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficking Kingpins (SDNTKs) pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act).

Kongra-Gel, formerly known as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), was previously designated as an SDNTK pursuant to the Kingpin Act in May 2008. According to the U.S. government, PKK has been involved in drug trafficking for over two decades. The U.S. believes that Kongra-Gel uses its network across Europe to produce, transport, and traffic opiates and cannabis and that such activities are among Kongra-Gel’s most lucrative. The U.S. Government alleges that this organization uses the drug proceeds to obtain weapons and materials.

According to the press release from Treasury, one of Kongra-Gel’s alleged founders, Cemil Bayik, also serves as the senior military commander for that organization. Furthermore, according to Treasury, Duran Kalkan serves on Kongra-Gel’s chairmanship council and is responsible for an attack that killed seven Turkish soldiers in December 2009. Remzi Kartal is accused of serving as the chief Kongra-Gel operative in Europe. Sabri Ok is alleged to be a senior Kongra-Gel leader responsible for the group’s finances in Europe, and Adem Uzun is alleged to operate on behalf of the Kongra-Gel in northern Iraq. As a result of OFAC’s designation all assets of these designated parties under U.S. jurisdiction have been prohibited and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in financial or commercial transactions with these parties. Internationally, more than 900 businesses and individuals linked to 87 drug kingpins have been identified for sanctions since June 2000.

The penalties that can be imposed for violations of the Kingpin Act can range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties. In addition, criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million.

The author of this blog is Erich Ferrari, an attorney specializing in OFAC matters. If you have any questions please contact him at 202-280-6370 or ferrari@ferrari-legal.com.

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