The United States has released a sanctions list of individuals and companies allegedly linked to ISIS financing, including a Nigerian national and Nigeria-based bureau de change firms, as part of a global counter-terrorism crackdown.
US designates individuals and companies across Nigeria, France, Syria and Türkiye
The US Department of the Treasury and State Department announced the designations under their counter-terrorism framework, targeting three individuals and six entities operating across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa. The sanctions aim to disrupt financial networks allegedly used to support ISIS operations globally.
In a statement released on Monday and reviewed on Tuesday, US Department of State spokesperson Thomas Pigott said the targeted network represents a critical pipeline that allows ISIS to funnel funds across international borders.
Nigerian national and bureau de change firms blacklisted
The individuals listed include Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, a Nigerian national also known as Mukhtar Adamu or Muhammad Mukhtar, along with Boukich Abdelhakim (alias Abu Sulayman Alholandi or Muhammad Babili) and Miloud Abderrahmane (alias Ibrahim Ghazi).
The entities blacklisted include five bureau de change and exchange-related companies: Generation Currency Bureau De Change Limited, Manhattan Bureau De Change Limited, Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau De Change Limited, all based in Nigeria, as well as Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic Ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (also known as Al-Karam Company, Al-Karam Money Transfer Company, or Spider Company Istanbul Exchange Rates) and Spider Gayrimenkul Ve Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (also known as Spider Money Transfer Company or Spider Ticaret), both based in Türkiye. Additionally, Bitcoin Exchange Agent Idlib's No.1 Coin Exchange (also known as Idlib No 1 BTC, No.1 Bitcoin Exchange Agent, or Bitcoin Xchange) was listed, operating in Syria.
Sanctions aim to block access to US financial system
According to the US authorities, the listed individuals allegedly played roles in facilitating financial transactions linked to ISIS operations, while the companies were said to be part of networks used to move funds across borders through currency exchange and digital asset channels.
The US said all designated persons and entities are now subject to sanctions, including restrictions on access to the American financial system and freezes on assets under US jurisdiction. Officials added that the designations are part of ongoing global efforts to track and dismantle terrorist financing networks operating through formal and informal financial systems.
The sanctions list includes a France-based facilitator who provided explosives data to ISIS supporters, a Syria-based operative using cryptocurrency to move funds for global ISIS associates (including some in the US), and a Nigeria-based facilitator whose currency exchange businesses funneled ISIS financing.
