This section provides a detailed examination of the connections between the listed companies and the Al Aqili Group, based on extensive research into publicly available information. The analysis aims to address the query comprehensively, including all relevant details from the investigation, and expands on the direct answer with additional context and insights.

Background and Context

The Al Aqili Group is known for its involvement in oil trading and has been associated with facilitating the circumvention of oil sanctions. as noted in reports such as those from the Iran Foreign Ministry Action Team (IFMAT) Al Aqili Group – IFMAT. This context is crucial for understanding the potential implications of the connections identified. included a reference to a court order (https://www.govinfo.gov/content.pkg/USCOURTS-dcd-1_20-cv-01791/pdf/USCOURTS-dcd-1_20-cv-01791-0.pdf). which was not accessible, leading to reliance on alternative sources like corporate profiles, news articles, and databases.

Initial Company List and Connections

• Avantgarde Shipping Pte Ltd
• AVANTGARDE PETROLEUM
• avantgarde petrolum fze (parent of avantgarde tankers)
• Iships Management Pte Ltd
• ECB International LLC
• Avantgarde International Logistics LLC
• Ormus Oil SRO
• Plachem International Trading LLC

Research began by clarifying the identities of these companies, noting potential typos (e.g., “avantgarde petrolum fze” likely being Avantgarde Petroleum FZE). The investigation revealed that these companies are interconnected through shared ownership, directorships, and subsidiary relationships, often involving key individuals like Gary Neil Webster, Devanandan Kunjayyappan, and Nader Mohammed Saleh Al Aqili, who are linked to the Al Aqili Group.

Details of Connection to Al Aqili Group.

Below is a breakdown of each company’s connection to the Al Aqili Group, supported by findings from various sources:

• Avantgarde Shipping Pte Ltd: This Singapore-based company is involved in shipping and vessel chartering, as seen on its website Avantgarde Shipping Pte Ltd. It is connected to the Al Aqili Group through shared directors with Iships Management Pte Ltd.Rahul Bhatnagar, a director and 80% shareholder of Iships Management, also co-directs Avantgarde Shipping, and both companies connect with individuals linked to the Al Aqili Group, as an article on sanctions evasion describes
• . In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2).
• AVANTGARDE PETROLEUM (Avantgarde Petroleum FZC): This company, likely the same as Avantgarde Petroleum FZE given the context, is involved in oil trading and storage, with operations in the UAE Avantgarde Petroleum FZC – Oil Trading and Storage Terminals. It is owned by ECB International LLC, and as of June 2018, ECB International was its sole shareholder, with shareholders like Gary Neil Webster and Devanandan Kunjayyappan linked to the Al Aqili Group, as per the same article In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2). Avantgarde Petroleum FZE (parent of avantgarde tankers): This appears to be a typo for Avantgarde Petroleum FZE, which is the parent of Avantgarde Tankers Ltd, a Malta-registered company Avantgarde Tankers Ltd | Malta Companies Directory. Its connection to the Al Aqili Group is through its parent, Avantgarde Petroleum FZC, as detailed above.
• Iships Management Pte Ltd: A Singapore company involved in ship management, it is connected to the Al Aqili Group through its majority shareholder, Rahul Bhatnagar, who is also linked to Avantgarde Shipping and individuals associated with the Al Aqili Group, as per In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2).

Read also Iran Oil Sanctions: Companies, Individuals, and Vessels

• ECB International LLC: Based in Dubai, this company is involved in commodities trading About Us – ECB. Its shareholders, Gary Neil Webster and Devanandan Kunjayyappan, frequently collaborate with the Al Aqili Group, and the company controls Avantgarde Petroleum FZC, thereby strengthening its connection to the network In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2).
• Avantgarde International Logistics LLC: A Dubai-based company, it is owned jointly by Gary Neil Webster and Nader Mohammed Saleh Al Aqili, directly connecting it to the Al Aqili Group, as noted in the same article In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2).
• Ormus Oil SRO: A Czech Republic company and subsidiary of Avantgarde Petroleum FZC, it has Nader Mohammed Saleh Al Aqili as its managing director, linking it directly to the Al Aqili Group In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2).
• Plachem International Trading LLC: Gary Neil Webster and Nader Mohammed Saleh Al Aqili control another Dubai-based company, which, according to the same source, ties it to the Al Aqili Group In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2).

Additional Network Companies

Research identified several other companies likely part of the Al Aqili Group’s network, based on shared ownership and direct associations:

• Aali Investments LLC: Co-owned by Gary Neil Webster and Mohammed Saeed Al Aqili, as mentioned in In the Grace I’s Wake: Ship Management & Sanctions Evasion (Part 2).
• Mosaik Electronics LLC: Owned by Gary Neil Webster and Nader Mohammed Saleh Al Aqili, also from the same source.
• Avantgarde Tankers Ltd: A subsidiary of Avantgarde Petroleum FZC, with directors like Devanandan Kunjayyappan connected to the Al Aqili Group, as seen in Avantgarde Tankers Ltd | ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database.
• KASB International LLC: Mentioned as a subsidiary of the Al Aqili Group involved in financial activities, supporting Seyed Seyyedi’s group, as per Al Aqili Group – IFMAT.

Further exploration suggested other potential associates, such as Al Rashideen International and European Asian Tobacco FZC, listed in company directories Al Aqili Group Llc, 10th Floor, Citibank Towe…, but these connections were less directly verified and thus not included in the primary list.

Summary Table of Connections

To organize the findings, the following table lists all companies and their connections to the Al Aqili Group:

Implications and Observations

The connections suggest a complex network potentially involved in oil trading and logistics, with implications for sanctions evasion, as highlighted in reports like Al Aqili Group – IFMAT. The involvement of multiple jurisdictions (Singapore, UAE, Malta, Czech Republic) indicates a global operational scope, which may pose challenges for regulatory oversight. The unexpected detail here is the extent of the network, including companies like Mosaik Electronics LLC, which might not immediately seem related to oil trading but form part of the financial and logistical web.

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