The US Department of the Treasury said it has imposed new sanctions targeting nine individuals who have directly or indirectly acted for or purported to act for or on behalf of Serbian arms dealer Slobodan Tesic, who has been under sanctions since December 2017.

Tesic was designated as at the time he was among the biggest dealers of arms and munitions in the Balkans. He was listed by the US as a human rights abuser and corrupt actor.

“In order to secure arms contracts with various countries, Tesic would directly or indirectly provide bribes and financial assistance. Tesic took potential clients on high-value vacations, paid for their children’s education at western schools or universities, and used large bribes to secure contracts,” the Department of Treasury said in a statement.

Four companies were concurrently designated for being owned or controlled by Tesic: Preduzece Za Trgovinu Na Veliko I Malo Partizan Tech DOO Beograd-Savski Venac (Partizan Tech), Technoglobal Systems DOO Beograd (Technoglobal), Charso Limited, and Grawit Limited.

However, following his designation, Tesic has continued participating in the arms trade and operates as a silent partner in companies he indirectly owns and manages. 

“Tesic still controls many, if not all, aspects of the companies’ daily operations, including brokering deals and soliciting new business opportunities, though he relies on his trusted associates to sign the deals and to appear on all public documentation,” the statement reads.

Between 2003 and 2013, Tesic was also included in the United Nations (UN) Travel Ban List for violating UN sanctions against arms exports to Liberia.