The Houthis have garnered attention in the news recently for their spectacular hijacking of Galaxy Leader cargo vessel in the Red Sea. A notable financier of Houthi rebels is Sa’id al-Jamal, is identified by the U.S. Treasury as an “Iran-based supporter of the Houthis, who oversees a network of front companies and vessels that smuggle Iranian fuel, petroleum products, and other goods across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
A considerable share of the revenue produced from these transactions is funneled through a complicated international web of intermediaries and exchange houses back to the Houthis in Yemen, thus financing their destabilizing activities in the region, alongside the IRGC-QF and others, including Hizballah.” It appears that the UAE-based Asia Charm Ltd FZE and Venezuela may be among the jurisdictions in which al-Jamal’s network is operational, a detail overlooked by the Treasury.
Asia Charm Ltd first came to attention in June 2020 during an investigation into Alex Saab’s unofficial role as PDVSA’s trading arm. Anternal PDVSA documents revealed that two names were linked to Asia Charm Ltd: Emad Mohammad Hussein Otair (also known as Emad Otair) and Konstatinos Stavridis.
In 2022, treasury designated Stavridis idue to his connections with al-Jamal’s terrorism-supporting network. Emad Otair is reportedly based in Manila, and the two vessels that transported PDVSA crude in 2020 (Rene 9250622 and Marbella 9222455) have since changed ownership, now managed by Cardona Ship Management Services at 1706 Singalong Street, Paco, likely a minor establishment in Manila. Otair also managed the registration of the currently defunct domain asiacharm.ae
Asia Charm Ltd has received PDVSA shipments under conditions akin to those used by Saab’s network of shell companies, characterised by the arrangement: “lift crude now, pay whenever, if at all.” Recent investigations indicate that Saab and partner Alvaro Pulido Vargas owe PDVSA about $1.5 billion in unpaid invoices. U
However, unlike Saab and Pulido, Asia Charm Ltd continues to be favoured by PDVSA to this day, with the firm lifting four cargoes recently. The majority of Asia Charm Ltd’s 21-vessel fleet is regularly engaged in cabotage activities by PDVSA and is involved in deliveries to third parties across Asia.
According to Reuters, since the Treasury’s easing of specific sanctions in October, Asia Charm Ltd has re-emerged as a recipient of a spot contract from PDVSA. Earlier reports from 2020, also by Reuters, included Asia Charm Ltd as part of a network of UAE businesses assisting PDVSA in circumventing sanctions. Sources suggest that Asia Charm Ltd may play another role as an intermediary between PDVSA and third parties looking to obtain Venezuelan crude or refined products.
This Dubai-based, single-shareholder shell was mentioned in a “clarification note” filled with generic statements released by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yet no actions have been taken against the company in the UAE. Based on the research conducted on this site, the link between Asia Charm Ltd, PDVSA, OFAC-designated Stavridis, and his role in facilitating sanctions evasion in al-Jamal’s network appears to have gone largely unnoticed. Given that PDVSA now demands payment in cash or USDT, it is plausible to suggest that Stavridis’ ongoing activities in Venezuela could be part of al-Jamal’s operations.
Regardless, Asia Charm Ltd has emerged unscathed from PDVSA’s corruption cleanup, with its vessels incorporated into PDVSA’s operational fleet. With its continued trade relations with PDVSA, one has to question who is truly behind Asia Charm Ltd.
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