On Wednesday, the United States imposed sanctions on individuals and entities linked to al-Qaeda in Brazil. The U.S. State Department stated that the sanctions affected a network comprising three individuals and two companies affiliated with two of them, all of whom provided financial support to al-Qaeda. The statement emphasized that al-Qaeda and its regional branches continue to pose a threat to countries around the world, noting that the U.S. is committed to working with its partners, including Brazil, to disrupt all financial support networks for al-Qaeda. U.S. Treasury Deputy Secretary Brian Nelson stated that "the sanctions will help deprive these individuals of access to the global financial system."
The individuals listed on the U.S. sanctions list include:
1. **Ahmed Shukri Ahmed Al-Maghribi**: He arrived in Brazil in 2015 and was one of the first members of the al-Qaeda network in the country, according to the U.S. Treasury. Al-Maghribi had frequent contact with al-Qaeda members and conducted business transactions while providing financial assistance to the organization, including purchasing foreign currency, with another al-Qaeda member in Brazil. The statement noted that Al-Maghribi is overseen by a person named Ahmed Mohammed Hamad Ali, a member of al-Qaeda in Brazil who has been on the U.S. sanctions list since 2001.
2. **Mohammed Sharif Mohammed Mohammed Awad**: He arrived in Brazil in mid-2018 and received bank and financial transfers from other al-Qaeda partners in Brazil, according to the U.S. Treasury. Starting in late 2018, Awad played a significant role in an al-Qaeda-affiliated group based in Brazil and participated in counterfeiting currency. The Treasury's statement indicated that Awad owns a furniture company based in São Paulo, which was also included on the sanctions list. It added that Awad provided material assistance, financial support, and technology for al-Qaeda member Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sayed Ahmed Ibrahim, who has been listed as a terrorist by the U.S. since 2019.
3. **Ahmed Al-Khateeb**: Residing in Brazil, Al-Khateeb assisted al-Qaeda by providing financial, technological support, as well as goods and services for Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sayed Ahmed Ibrahim. Al-Khateeb owns a furniture company in the Brazilian capital, which has also been included on the sanctions list.
The sanctions freeze any assets in the United States belonging to the targets and generally prohibit Americans from dealing with them. Any person involved in certain transactions with these individuals and entities will be subject to U.S. sanctions.
