In the February 9 statement released by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Treasury Secretary John Snow listed 10 companies the department claims are controlled by the Cuban government or Cuban nationals. OFAC is the Treasury branch charged with enforcement of the embargo of Cuba. Nine of the 10 companies listed by Snow are travel agencies offering package trips. They include companies with offices in Argentina, the Bahamas, Canada, Chile, the Netherlands and Britain.

According to the statement, all property of these companies in the possession of individuals subject to U.S. jurisdiction is frozen and no one subject to U.S. authority is permitted to engage in transactions with these companies without authorization by the agency.

On the same day Snow outlined the measures to a meeting of about 100 Cuban-American businessmen in Miami, Reuters reported. “We’re cracking down,” he said. “We mean business.”

According to OFAC, the border patrol is inspecting 100 percent of direct flights to and from Cuba at airports in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles. They have also added additional inspectors in those cities.

Some 44,000 passengers from 569 flights to Cuba, mostly charters, were “screened” by the border cops. Another 50,915 passengers and crew members from 1,007 flights returning to the United States were “subjected to extensive examination,” the OFAC statement added. The flights targeted included those carrying passengers suspected of returning from Cuba via a third country. Some 275 passengers on the charter flights were denied permission to travel after border cops claimed they did not qualify under OFAC regulations.

Last December, 28 photography students from Napa Valley College in California were stopped in Miami by customs cops as they attempted to travel on a college-sponsored program to Cuba. Ron Rogers, head of the college’s art department, told the Napa News that one student was subjected to “rapid-fire questions” and that the customs officials were there to “challenge and rattle and intimidate her.” The students were allowed to board a flight for Havana two days later after college officials and a Congressman intervened on their behalf.

Since October the agency has also opened 264 cases on individuals suspected of traveling to Cuba without government permission. Three of those have been referred to federal law enforcement agencies for criminal investigation.

The agency has also stepped up the issuance of pre-penalty notices that inform an individual accused of violating the travel ban of the penalties to be sought by the government.

Those who receive these notices are informed that the penalty will be imposed unless they make a request within 30 days for a “timely hearing.” Some 111 people requested a hearing but in the face of intimidation and threats of fines 63 of them decided in the end to just pay the penalty. The average threatened fine is $7,500.

The agency also announced the formation of a “Major Case Squad” to investigate cases of banks and companies conducting “illegal” transactions with Cuban commercial enterprises. The squad’s action has resulted in settlements amounting to $200,000 with 20 of the 60 companies that have received notices of violating the trade embargo against Cuba.

Based on information gleaned from the stepped-up interrogation of passengers, OFAC has suspended the licenses issued to two organizations that travel to Cuba for humanitarian and religious activities. Treasury officials have also taken action to limit the number of days those traveling to Cuba under such licenses are allowed to stay on the island. The licenses of four other groups are under investigation for possible suspension.  
 
 
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