Treasury targets international crime syndicates

The agency is targeting key figures within the Camorra, the Brothers Circle and Yakuza. The latter is reputedly the world’s largest criminal organization, with more than 70,000 members.

All three groups are considered transnational criminal organizations (TCO), a designation that gives the federal government authority to freeze any assets within U.S. jurisdiction. The action also prohibits any transactions between the individuals and people within the United States.

“The individuals designated today are key members of criminal organizations who engage in serious crimes around the world,” said David S. Cohen, Treasury under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “Treasury will continue to target additional members and supporters of these groups, as well as other significant TCOs, as we systematically expose their criminal operations and protect the U.S. financial system from their illicit activity.”

Targeted in the action are: Carmine, Antonio, Pasquale and Nicola Zagaria of San Cipriano D’Aversa, Italy; Jiro Kiyota and Kazuo Uchibori of Japan; and Russian-born Marina Samuilovna, a resident of Dubai.

The three groups are responsible for a wide range of crimes, including money laundering, drug trafficking, extortion, bribery and kidnapping, Treasury said.