ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The United States government has identified and sanctioned three Nigerian bureau de change (BDC) operators and several foreign entities over their alleged involvement in a financial network linked to the funding of the Islamic State (ISIS).
Speaking on Monday, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said a Nigeria-based operator was among three individuals accused of facilitating the movement of funds for ISIS through money exchange businesses operating across multiple countries.
According to Pigott, the network stretched from France and Syria to Turkey and Nigeria, with the Nigerian-based facilitator allegedly using money exchange businesses as channels for transferring funds connected to the terrorist group.
The US government said the three individuals and the entities linked to them have been subjected to sanctions.
In a separate statement, the US Treasury Department disclosed the identities of the individuals and organisations affected by the sanctions, including Lagos-based Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu.
The Treasury Department also listed three Nigerian BDCs located in Lagos and Kano among the entities allegedly connected to ISIS financing activities.
The affected Nigerian firms are Generation Currency Bureau de Change Limited, Lagos; Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau de Change Limited, Lagos; and Manhattan Bureau de Change Limited, Kano.
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The Treasury Department released the following list of sanctioned individuals and entities: Abdelhakim Boukich (also known as Abu Sulayman Alholandi and Muhammad Babili), a Dutch national with links to Syria, was designated for alleged connections to ISIS.
Miloud Abderrahmane (also known as Ibrahim Ghazi), a French national, was sanctioned over alleged ties to ISIS. The designation also included digital currency addresses associated with him.
Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu (also known as Mukhtar Adamu and Muhammad Mukhtar), of Lagos, Nigeria, was listed by US authorities as being linked to ISIS-West Africa. The Treasury Department identified him as residing at No. 45 Abimbola Street, off Capital Road, by Morcas Agege, Lagos State.
Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi, a Turkey-based company also known by several alternative names including Al-Karam Financial Transfers and Al-Karam Money Transfer Company, was sanctioned for alleged links to ISIS.
Bitcoin Exchange Agent Idlib’s No.1 Coin Exchange, operating in several locations in Syria, was also included on the sanctions list.
Generation Currency Bureau de Change Limited, Lagos, Nigeria, was designated and linked by US authorities to Muhammad Mukhtar Adamu.
Manhattan Bureau de Change Limited, located at No. 59 Murtala Mohammed Way, Wapa, Kano, was similarly sanctioned and linked to Adamu.
Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau de Change Limited, situated at Block 7, Faan Complex, Airport Road, by Beesam Bus Stop, Ikeja, Lagos, was also listed among the sanctioned entities.
Spider Gayrimenkul ve Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi, a Turkey-based company also known as Spider Money Transfer Company and Spider General Trading Company, was designated over alleged connections to ISIS.