Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List

The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, also known as the SDN List, is a United States government sanctions/embargo measure targeting U.S.-designated terrorists, officials and beneficiaries of certain authoritarian regimes, and international criminals (e.g. drug traffickers).

[1] When individuals are added to the list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN), their U.S. assets are blocked.

Moreover, their names are added to automated screening systems used by banks in the United States and many foreign countries, making it difficult for them to open or hold accounts, transfer money, or transact properties internationally.

[3] The SDN list contains tens of thousands[4] of individuals and entities that have been identified as posing threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy.

Financial sanctions include a ban on investment in the stock of the blacklisted individuals and entities in which the blacklisted individuals have a controlling interest, and a ban on new debt (including all securities such as bonds, credits, bills of exchange, etc.)