The US Department of Homeland Security along with other government agencies announced multiple actions including sanctions against an individual named Nazem Ahmad for being involved with the terrorist organization Hizballah. The United States has sanctioned him under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (GTSR). Several other individuals are also sanctioned for being involved in Ahmad’s criminal links and organization. They all are found connected to businesses that benefitted Ahmad and helped him provide access to Hizballah to the US and International Financial Markets.
District Court unsealed a nine-count indictment charging Ahmad and eight co-defendants with conspiracy against the United States and other foreign governments. Also, they were charged with evasion of U.S sanctions and customs laws and Money Laundering for the terrorist organization Hizballah.
Most importantly, the accused Ahmad and his conspirators were sanctioned in December 2019 but they still kept on continuing to operate through a complex web of business entities where they obtained valuable artwork from U.S artists, art galleries, and other resources to secure US-based diamond grading services. Government officials seized millions of dollars in assets including a diamond ring, cash, and artwork while arresting one defendant here in the United Kingdom.
The US Attorney Breon Peace states, “The US sanctioned the individuals like Ahmad for supporting terrorist organization Hizballah and it would be cut off from goods and services that are funding the violent act of terrorism. Nazem Ahmad and his co-defendants falsely benefitted from the multi-million dollar trade of diamonds and artwork even after the sanctions for involvement in terrorist activities with Hizballah. We shall continue to prosecute individuals who evade the sanctions and stop terrorism at all costs.”
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