OFAC released this week its latest civil penalties information which reported two fines, one against a company and one against an individual.

The first penalty noted in the report was a $500 fine imposed by OFAC on Osment Models d/b/a Woodland Scenics for violation of the Iranian Transaction Regulations. Woodland Scenics makes the trees, tunnels, rocks and similar stuff used by model railroaders to add scenery to their train kits. The fine arises from a voluntary disclosure by the company after it exported its model railroad products to Iran. Model railroaders are a significant political force in Iran so it seems reasonable to suppose that OFAC’s action in this case will hasten the end of the current regime in Iran.

OFAC also imposed a fine of $975 on an individual for buying Cuban cigars on the Internet. Not surprisingly, there are a number of web sites, like this one, which offer to ship Cuban cigars from Europe (or elsewhere) to the United States in clear violation of the embargo. Although OFAC arguably has better things to do with its time than to chase down Internet Cohiba shipments, it’s hard to shed many tears for this purchaser who certainly should have known better.

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