BIS Renews Denial Order for Venezuelan Airline

The Bureau of Industry and Security this week again renewed its temporary denial order for a Venezuela-based cargo airline after saying it continues to try to violate U.S. export restrictions in "continued disregard" for the terms of the TDO. BIS said Empresa de Transporte Aereocargo del Sur, also known as Aerocargo del Sur Transportation or Emtrasur, will continue to be subject to the denial order for 180 days from Jan. 21.

BIS issued the order in August (see 2208030014), and renewed it in July (see 2307260007), after the airline acquired “custody” of a U.S.-origin Boeing aircraft from Mahan Air, a sanctioned Iranian airline (see 2205160035), and illegally flew that plane between Venezuela, Iran and Russia. The Argentine government eventually detained the plane, but BIS said Emtrasur, working with the Venezuelan government, has tried to recover the plane, which would violate U.S. export restrictions (see 2301270003).

An Argentine federal judge on Jan. 4 issued an order to release the aircraft to the U.S. government, BIS said. The agency said the plane is still in Argentina "and has not yet been recovered" by the U.S.