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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated key leaders and financial facilitators of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and al-Qa’ida in Maldives, including 20 ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), and al-Qa’ida operatives. OFAC also designated 29 companies associated with the individuals sanctioned on 30th July 2023, including leaders of Maldives-based terrorist-affiliated criminal gangs and associates of key ISIS-K recruiter Mohamad Ameen who was designated by OFAC in 2019. Several of these individuals have also planned or carried out attacks that targeted journalists and local authorities.

Key ISIS facilitators and fundraisers are targeted in this action, similar to  designations to other critical nodes in ISIS’ global network like those present in Somalia. These individuals and entities were designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups and their supporters.

1. ADDU CITY CELL AND KEY MEMBERS

An ISIS-affiliated cell based in Addu City attempted to carry out terror plots since at least 2018, including attacks utilizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Jinaau Naseem (Naseem) who is the self-proclaimed emir of the Addu City cell, was in direct communication with ISIS-K and has provided financial support to Maldivian ISIS foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) in Syria.
Mohamed Thasleem (Thasleem) has worked with Ameen to provide guidance for the Addu City cell’s terrorist operations. Thasleem is also connected to another ISIS-affiliated cell that attempted to assassinate the former President of Maldives.

Faris Mohamed Didi (Didi)and Ali Nihadh (Nihadh) are members of the Addu City cell’s operational team. In 2022, Didi was involved in an IED attack plot by the cell in addition to producing ISIS propaganda. Syria-based ISIS officials have previously attempted to facilitate the travel of Didi to Syria. Nihadh has been involved in multiple attempts of the Addu City cell to conduct terrorist attacks.

Mohamed Naushad Shareef (Naushad Shareef) has served as a member of the ISIS-affiliated Addu City cell. He was involved in attempted attacks using IEDs. Sky Nova Investment and New Sun Investments Pvt Ltd are owned or controlled by Naushad Shareef.

Jinaau Naseem, Mohamed Thasleem, Faris Mohamed Didi, Ali Nihadh, and Mohamed Naushad Shareef were thus designated. Sky Nova Investment and New Sun Investments Pvt Ltd are owned by Mohamed Naushad Shareef whose property and interests in property are blocked.

ISIS-AFFILIATED CRIMINAL GANG AND LEADERS

Ahmed Alif Rauf (Alif), Mohamed Inthif Rauf (Inthif), and Ibrahim Aleef Rauf (Ibrahim) lead the ISIS-aligned, Maldives-based criminal gang Kuda Henveyru. The Kuda Henveyru gang fundraises for Maldivian ISIS FTFs in Syria and organizes large-scale robberies to generate finances. Alif, Inthif, and Ibrahim have all played a critical role in obtaining funding to support ISIS’s activities abroad. Alif has used Kuda Henveyru to recruit and radicalize young men who are then sent to conflict zones.

Maldives-based companies Street Investments Pvt Ltd, Street Motor Services, and White Beach Watersports Pvt Ltd are owned or controlled by Alif. Ibrahim manages Kuda Henveyru’s finances and has generated funding through criminal activities. Ibrahim has additionally facilitated the travel of Kuda Henveyru members to conflict zones for engagement in militant activities. Maldives-based companies Baum Pvt Ltd and Maroc International Pvt Ltd are owned or controlled by Inthif.

Ahmed Alif Rauf, Mohamed Inthif Rauf, and Ibrahim Aleef Rauf are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for financing and supporting ISIS. Street Investments Pvt Ltd, Street Motor Services, and White Beach Watersports Pvt Ltd are designated for being owned by Ahmed Alif Rauf.  Baum Pvt Ltd and Maroc International Pvt Ltd were designated for being owned by Mohamed Inthif Rauf.

ASSOCIATES OF ISIS-K RECRUITER MOHAMAD AMEEN

Abdulla Ali Manik (Manik) is an ISIS-aligned operative linked to several terrorist plots in Maldives and maintains direct contact with Ameen and several of his associates. In 2020, Manik carried out a knife attack that was later claimed by ISIS as well as a separate attack also claimed by ISIS that targeted the former President of Maldives and speaker of the Maldivian parliament. Since at least 2007, Manik has contributed to radicalization and recruited individuals in prison. Moosa Inas (Inas) was involved in an early 2020 ISIS attack targeting police vessels at Mahibadhoo harbor, Maldives. As of early 2022, ISIS-K had appointed Abdulla Shareef (Shareef) as the ISIS emir in Maldives. Shareef, operating under ISIS-K’s directions, was also in direct contact with ISIS leadership in Syria and Iraq. Maldives-based company Multi Construction Pvt Ltd is owned or controlled by Shareef.

Hussain Shamil (Shamil) has helped Ameen recruit individuals in Male, Maldives. Shamil was involved in the recruitment and radicalization of Maldivian youth for travel to Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Maldives-based companies Larosa and Al Athmaar are owned by Shamil. Ahmed Mubeen (Mubeen) has also assisted Ameen in his recruitment efforts. As senior Maldivian ISIS members, Ameen, Shamil, and Mubeen have counselled individuals interested in travelling to conflict zones, including Syria, to participate as FTFs. Maldives-based company 3ZED Investment is owned or controlled by Mubeen. Ameen Ahmed (Ahmed) has recruited vulnerable gang members to participate in the Syrian conflict. Ahmed wants to fight for ISIS and has possessed instructions for bomb-making and poison-making. Maldives-based companies Inma Maldives and Jazeerat Almaldifi are owned by Ahmed.

Yoosuf Shaheed (Shaheed) is an ISIS supporter who has recruited and facilitated the travel of Maldivian FTFs to Syria. Maldives-based company Dhawi Pvt Ltd is owned or controlled by Shaheed and Ahmed Afraah (Afraah). Afraah has sent nearly $1,000 to a leader of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an ISIS-affiliated terrorist group in Indonesia. Separately, Afraah has also sent thousands of dollars to a Türkiye-based ISIS intermediary. Maldives-based companies Dhawi Pvt Ltd, SIAS Investment Pvt Ltd, and Fruit Plus Maldives Pvt Ltd are owned or controlled by Afraah and Code A Partnership is owned or controlled by Afraah and Ameen. Mohamed Maathiu Abdul Razzaq (Razzaq) is an associate of Ameen. Maldives-based company Green Birds is owned or controlled by Razzaq.

In late 2018, Ali Shafiu (Shafiu) traveled through Pakistan to Afghanistan to join ISIS-K and had previously attempted to go to Syria in 2015. Shafiu, as recently as 2022, was a part of ISIS-K’s media office. Ameen had previously selected Shafiu as the Maldivian representative to ISIS-K leadership in Afghanistan. Maldives-based company Panda Maldives Pvt Ltd is owned or controlled by Shafiu and Al Athmaar is owned or controlled by Shamil and Shafiu.

Abdulla Ali Manik, Moosa Inas, Abdulla Shareef, Hussain Shamil, Ahmed Mubeen, Ameen Ahmed, Yoosuf Shaheed, Ahmed Afraah, and Mohamed Maathiu Abdul Razzaq, are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ISIS, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224. Ali Shafiu is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, ISIS-K, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224.

Multi Construction Pvt Ltd is being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Abdulla Shareef, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Larosa and Al Athmaar are being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Hussain Shamil, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. 3ZED Investment is being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Ahmed Mubeen, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Inma Maldives and Jazeerat Almaldifi are being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Ameen Ahmed, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended.

Dhawi Pvt Ltd is being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Yoosuf Shaheed, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Dhawi Pvt Ltd, SIAS Investment Pvt Ltd, Fruit Plus Maldives Pvt Ltd, and Code A Partnership are being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Ahmed Afraah, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Code A Partnership is being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Mohamad Ameen, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Green Birds is being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Mohamed Maathiu Abdul Razzaq, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended.

Panda Maldives Pvt Ltd and Al Athmaar are being designated for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Ali Shafiu, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended.

AL-QA’IDA OPERATIVES

Ahmed Agleel (Agleel), leader of the operational arm of an al-Qa’ida cell based in Maldives that also has ties to al-Nusrah Front. Its members were involved in facilitating and financing the travel of Maldivian nationals to Syria as FTFs. Agleel was also involved in the 2014 murder of a Maldivian journalist that was carried out by an al-Qa’ida affiliate operating in Maldives. Maldives-based companies Furaha Construction Pvt Ltd, Designer Garage, and Southern Stallions Pvt Ltd are owned or controlled by Agleel.

As of early 2021, Ali Shiyam (Shiyam) was a high-profile terrorist financier aligned with the al-Qa’ida cell operating in Maldives. Shiyam has provided both ideological and financial support to other extremists, including Maldivian FTFs. Shiyam has been a leader of al-Qa’ida in Maldives and has funded the recruitment of FTFs to send to Syria. Maldives-based companies Golden Warriors Investment Pvt Ltd, Vaaly Brothers Pvt Ltd, Syskon Pvt Ltd, Shine. X Investments Pvt Ltd, Eriyadhu Investments Pvt Ltd, Jazeera Properties Pvt Ltd, and Visions Maldives Pvt Ltd are owned by Shiyam.

Ahmed Agleel and Ali Shiyam were designated for supporting al-Qa’ida financially and technologically. Furaha Construction Pvt Ltd, Designer Garage, and Southern Stallions Pvt Ltd were designated for being owned by Ahmed Agleel. Golden Warriors Investment Pvt Ltd, Vaaly Brothers Pvt Ltd, Syskon Pvt Ltd, Shine. X Investments Pvt Ltd, Eriyadhu Investments Pvt Ltd, Jazeera Properties Pvt Ltd, and Visions Maldives Pvt Ltd were designated for being owned by Ali Shiyam.

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