-Caveat Lector-
Washington File
29 August 2002
U.S. and Italy Designate 25 New Financiers of Terror
(Will notify UN of financiers' connection to al-Qaida) (3340)
The United States and Italy are blocking the assets of 25 individuals
and groups that support terrorism and are informing the United
Nations Sanctions Committee of the connection between these
entities and the al-Qaida terrorist network, the U.S. Department of
the Treasury has announced.
"This action furthers international efforts to shut down identified
terrorist financing networks using targeted freezing actions under
domestic and international law," Treasury Under Secretary Jimmy
Gurul� said in an August 29 Treasury Department news release.
The 25 new designations include 11 individuals related to the
Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), an Algerian-based
terrorist organization that operates in North Africa and Italy. The
other 14 entities are owned or controlled by either Ahmed Idris
Nasreddin or Youssef Nada, both of whom have been previously
designated as supporters of terrorism by the United States and the
UN Security Council.
The U.S.-Italy action to block the assets of these individuals and
groups is notable for being the direct result of cooperation and
collaboration among four nations -- the United States, Italy, the
Bahamas and Luxembourg -- Gurul� said.
"All four of those nations provided financial information,
investigative assistance, or key documents or support which allowed
us to make the case necessary for today's designation," he said.
"Today's action demonstrates the commitment of the international
coalition to the fight against terrorist financing."
Since September 11, the United States and other countries
combined have frozen more than $112 million in terrorist-related
assets, and 234 individuals and entities are currently designated as
financiers of terror, Gurul� said.
Following is the text of his statement, followed by a Treasury
Department release listing the 25 individuals and entities affected by
the new blocking order:
(begin text)
U.S. Department of the Treasury
>From the Office of Public Affairs
August 29, 2002
Statement by U.S Treasury Secretary for Enforcement Jimmy
Gurul� in Support of Today's New Terrorist Financing Designations
In a significant action in our ongoing campaign against terrorism,
today, our two nations -- the United States and Italy -- are blocking
the property of 25 individuals and entities based on their support for
terrorism. This action furthers international efforts to shut down
identified terrorist financing networks using targeted freezing
actions under domestic and international law. In accordance with
relevant United Nations procedures, we are submitting these names
to the United Nations for listing by the UN 1267 Sanctions
Committee because of the connections between these entities and
individuals and al-Qaida.
Of the 25 new designations, the 11 individuals are related to the
Salafist Group for Call and Combat ("GSPC"), a separatist faction of
the Gruppo Islamico Armato ("GIA"). The GSPC, an Algerian-based
terrorist organization that continues to operate in North Africa as
well as Italy, is a lethal terrorist group and its members support and
finance terrorism around the globe. The United States designated
both the GSPC and the GIA on September 24, 2001, and the United
Nations placed them both on the list of terrorist entities linked to al-
Qaida on October 8, 2002.
Fourteen of the 25 entities designated today are owned or controlled
by either Ahmed Idris Nasreddin or Youssef Nada. Both of these
individuals have been previously designated as supporters of
terrorism and the al-Qaida network by the United States and the
international community under U.N. Security Council Resolutions
1267, 1333 and 1390. Today's action is another step toward
shutting down the terrorist-financing network orchestrated by Nada
and Nasreddin. This designation of additional corporate holdings will
further choke the flow of funds that facilitate the financing of
terrorism.
The simultaneous blocking of the assets of these individuals and
entities by Italy and the United States demonstrates the international
commitment to choke off the sources of financing for terrorist acts.
This particular designation is also unique, in that it is the direct
result of the collaborative and cooperative efforts of not just two,
but four nations -- the United States, Italy, the Bahamas, and
Luxembourg -- working together toward a common goal.
All four of those nations provided financial information,
investigative assistance, or key documents or support -- which
allowed us to make the case necessary for today's designation.
Today's action demonstrates the commitment of the international
coalition to the fight against terrorist financing.
We are confident that our efforts are having real-world effects.
Al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations are suffering financially
as a result of our actions. We also believe that potential donors are
being more cautious about giving money to organizations where
they fear that the money might wind up in the hands of terrorists. In
addition, greater regulatory scrutiny in financial systems around the
world is further marginalizing those who would support terrorist
groups and activities.
Our top priority is to prevent terrorist attacks by disrupting
terrorist finances. As President Bush has said, we seek to "starve
the terrorists of funding." Today's joint designation with Italy
demonstrates our commitment to exposing, isolating and
incapacitating the financial infrastructure of terrorist organizations
worldwide. This action is one more measure that we and the
international community are taking to attack terrorist financing.
We have a strong history of international cooperation in freezing
terrorist-related assets. Over 160 countries have blocking orders in
force, hundreds of accounts worth more than $70 million have been
blocked abroad, and foreign law enforcement have acted swiftly to
shut down terrorist financing networks and arrest financiers. There
have been other shared initiatives. On March 11, 2002, the United
States and Saudi Arabia jointly designated two branches of a
charity, and on April 19, 2002, the G7 [Group of Seven (G-7) leading
industrial countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United
Kingdom, United States] jointly designated nine individuals and one
entity. These efforts have been bolstered by actions from the
European Union which has issued three lists of designated terrorists
and terrorist groups for blocking. Since September 11th, the United
States and other countries combined have frozen more than $112
million in terrorist-related assets. As a result of our efforts --
including today's action -- 234 individuals and entities are currently
designated as financiers of terror.
(end Gurul� statement)
(begin Treasury news release)
U.S. Department of the Treasury
>From the Office of Public Affairs
August 29, 2002
The United States and Italy Designate Twenty-Five New Financiers
of Terror
"The President's September 23rd Executive Order made plain that
those who underwrite violence bear equal culpability to those who
perpetrate it. Feigned indifference, willful blindness, and the
appearance of normalcy and status in the world of business or
commerce will no longer provide cover or safe harbor -- here or
abroad. Today's action makes clear that we are serious about
shutting down any company or organization that is in the business of
supporting terrorism."
-- Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill
Today, in a significant action in our ongoing campaign against
terrorism, our two nations -- the United States and Italy -- are
blocking the assets of twenty-five individuals and entities based on
their support for terrorism. This action furthers international
efforts to shut down identified terrorist financing networks using
targeted freezing actions under domestic and international law. In
accordance with relevant United Nations procedures, we are
submitting these names to the United Nations for listing by the UN
1267 Sanctions Committee because of the connections between
these entities and individuals and al-Qaida.
Of today's twenty-five designations, all eleven individuals are
related to the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), a
separatist faction of the Gruppo Islamico Armato" (GIA). The GSPC,
an Algerian-based terrorist organization that continues to operate in
North Africa, Spain and Italy, is a lethal terrorist group whose
members support and finance terrorism around the globe. The
United States designated both the GSPC and the GIA on
September 24, 2001, and the United Nations placed them both on
the list of terrorist entities linked to al-Qaida on October 8, 2001.
Fourteen of the twenty-five are entities that are owned or controlled
by either Ahmed Idris Nasreddin or Youssef Nada, both of whom
have been previously designated as supporters of terrorism by the
United States and the international community under U.N. Security
Council Resolutions 1267, 1333 and 1390. These entities are part of
an extensive financial network providing support to al-Qaida and
other terrorist related organizations.
This designation of additional corporate holdings will further choke
the flow of funds that facilitate the financing of terrorism by
disrupting the sources of their funding through their financial
network.
The simultaneous blocking of the assets of these individuals and
entities by Italy and the United States demonstrates the international
commitment to choke off the sources of financing for terrorist acts.
This particular designation is also unique in that it is the direct
result of the collaborative and cooperative efforts of not just two,
but four nations -- the United States, Italy, the Bahamas, and
Luxembourg -- working together toward a common purpose. All four
of those nations provided financial information, investigative
assistance, or key documents or support -- which allowed us to
make the case necessary for today's designation.
Since September 11th, the United States and other countries have
frozen more than $112 million in terrorist-related assets. As a result
of our efforts -- including today's action -- 234 individuals and
entities are currently designated as financiers of terror.
Information About the New Designations
I. Individuals Linked to the Salafist Group for Call and Combat
Italy and the United States have concluded that each of these
eleven individuals are related to the Salafist Group for Call and
Combat (GSPC), which has supported al-Qaida activities. They are
implicated in preparing or organizing terrorist acts in the following
specific ways:
1. Adel Ben Soltane
Ben Soltane, a known member of the GSPC, has been convicted for
criminal conspiracy on the following counts: trafficking in arms,
explosives, and chemical weapons, receiving stolen goods, making
and using false documents, and for facilitating the entry of illegal
immigrants into Italy. Ben Soltane was also involved in and arrested
for the preparation of an attack against the U.S. Embassy in Rome
and for being in contact and communicating with other terrorist
groups.
2. Nabil Benattia
Nabil Benattia has been charged with conspiracy of involvement
with a criminal association and he is also under indictment for
conspiracy to traffic in arms, explosives, chemical weapons and
identity papers, and also for receiving stolen goods and aiding illegal
immigration.
3. Yassine Chekkouri
Yassine Chekkouri has been charged with conspiracy of
involvement with a criminal association and he is currently under
arrest for conspiracy to traffic in arms, explosives, chemical
weapons and identity papers, and also for receiving stolen goods
and aiding illegal immigration. Italian authorities report that Scotland
Yard investigators believe Chekkouri is "one of the highest" men in
the al-Qaida organization.
4. Riadh Jelassi
Riadh Jelassi has been charged with conspiracy of involvement with
a criminal association as a member of the GSPC. He has been
sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison for criminal conspiracy
to traffic in arms, receiving stolen goods, making and using false
documents, and for facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants into
Italy.
5. Mehdi Kammoun
Mehdi Kammoun has been charged with conspiracy of involvement
with a criminal association as a member of the GSPC, and has been
sentenced to a 5 year and 10 month term for having organized a cell
in Gallarate tied to al-Qaida. Kammoun was also convicted for
conspiracy to traffic in arms, explosives, and chemical weapons, for
receiving stolen goods, making and using forged documents, and
facilitating illegal immigration to Italy.
6. Samir Kishk
Samir Kishk has been charged with conspiracy of involvement with
criminal association as a member of the GSPC. He has been
indicted and is under arrest for participation in a criminal conspiracy
to traffic in arms, explosives, chemical weapons, identity papers,
receiving stolen goods and aiding illegal immigration.
7. Tarek Ben Habib Maaroufi
Tarek Ben Habib Maaroufi has been charged with conspiracy of
involvement with a criminal association as a member of the GSPC,
and is wanted by Italian authorities for participating in a criminal
conspiracy to traffic in arms, explosives, weapons and identity
papers. He is under arrest in Belgium for criminal conspiracy,
criminal association (GSPC), counterfeiting identity papers, and
recruiting for a foreign army or armed force. Maaroufi is suspected
of having provided the counterfeit identity papers to one of the killers
of anti-Taliban leader Ahmed Shah Massoud.
8. Abdelhalim Remadna
Abdelhalim Remadna has been charged with conspiracy of
involvement with criminal association and is under arrest for
participation in a criminal conspiracy to traffic in arms, explosives,
chemical weapons, identity papers, receiving stolen goods, and
aiding illegal immigration. Italian authorities have indicated that they
have proof of direct telephone contact between Remadna and Abu
Jaafar, who is considered to be the number three leader within al-
Qaida. Remadna is also identified by the Italian authorities as being
an aide to Es Sayed, a previously designated SDGT.
9. Mansour Thaer
Mansour Thaer has been charged with conspiracy of involvement
with criminal association and is under arrest in Germany. Thaer has
been investigated in Italy for his links with a terrorist cell and for
participation in a criminal conspiracy to traffic in arms, explosives,
chemical weapons, identity papers, receiving stolen goods and
aiding illegal immigration.
10. Lazhar Ben Mohammed
Tlili Lazhar Ben Mohammed Tlili has been charged with conspiracy
of involvement with criminal association and is wanted by Italian
authorities for his participation in a criminal conspiracy to traffic
in arms, explosives, chemical weapons, identity papers, receiving
stolen goods and aiding illegal immigration.
11. Habib Waddani
Habib Waddani has been charged with conspiracy of involvement
with a criminal association as a member of the GSPC. He has been
indicted for participating in a criminal conspiracy to traffic in arms,
explosives, chemical weapons, identity papers, receiving stolen
goods and aiding illegal immigration.
II. Nada/Nasreddin Network
Based on information available to Italy and the United States,
Youssef Nada ("Nada") and Ahmed Idris Nasreddin ("Nasreddin"),
through commercial holdings, operate an extensive financial
network providing support for terrorist related activities. In the case
of Nada and Nasreddin, this involves an extensive conglomeration
of businesses from which they derive their income or through which
they conduct transactions. Based on evidence of their support of
terrorism, Nada and Nasreddin were previously designated by the
international community as financiers of terror. Nada was
designated by the United States on November 7, 2001, and by the
United Nations on November 9, 2001. Nasreddin was designated by
the G7 on April 19, 2002, and by the United Nations on April 24,
2002. Nasreddin's corporate holdings and financial network provide
direct support for Nada and Bank Al Taqwa, which was also
previously designated by the United States on November
7, 2001, and the United Nations on November 9, 2001. This
designation of fourteen additional entities owned or controlled by
either Nada or Nasreddin will further restrict their assets and their
network by precluding these companies from being used to provide
funding or support for terrorism.
Nasreddin and Nada, who have worked closely together for many
years, are both directors of Bank Al Taqwa and Akida Bank. Nada
holds a controlling interest in Bank Al Taqwa and Nasreddin holds a
controlling interest in Akida Bank. Bank Al Taqwa and Akida Bank
are not functional banking institutions in the conventional sense.
They are shell companies lacking a physical presence and sharing
the same address in the Bahamas where they were licensed. For
this reason the licenses of Bank Al Taqwa and Akida Bank have
been revoked by the Bahamian government.
Bank Al Taqwa, for which Nasreddin is a director, was established in
1988 with significant backing from the Muslim Brotherhood. They
have been involved in financing radical groups such as the
Palestinian Hamas, Algeria's Islamic Salvation Front and Armed
Islamic Group, Tunisia's An-Nahda, and Usama bin Laden and his
al-Qaida organization. Bank Al Taqwa was established in the
Bahamas and is a close affiliate of the Al Taqwa Management
Organization, which changed its name in the spring of 2000 to the
Nada Management Organization. In 1997, it was reported that the
$60 million collected annually for Hamas was moved to Bank Al
Taqwa accounts. As of October 2000, Bank Al Taqwa appeared to
be providing a clandestine line of credit to a close associate of
Usama bin Laden and as of late September 2001, Usama bin Laden
and his al-Qaida organization received financial assistance from
Youssef M. Nada.
Nada and Nasreddin own or control a number of business entities
through direct ownership, control, or in cooperation with each other.
Fourteen of these entities are being designated in furtherance of the
prior designations of these two individuals to disrupt their use of
assets under their ownership or control that could be used to finance
terrorist activities.
12. Akida Bank Private Limited
Nasreddin, who serves as Akida Bank's president, also serves on
the board of directors of Akida Bank along with Youssef Nada.
According to corporate documents, the Nasreddin Foundation, an
entity proposed for designation, owns an overwhelming majority of
shares of Akida Bank, affording Ahmed Idris Nasreddin and the
Nasreddin Foundation ownership and control of Akida Bank.
13. Akida Investment Co. Ltd.
Akida Investment Co. Ltd. was incorporated in the Bahamas in
March 2001. Corporate documents indicate that as of April 2001, all
of the assets and liabilities of Akida Bank Private Limited have been
transferred to Akida Investment Company.
14. Nasreddin Group International Holding Limited
According to corporate documents, Ahmed Idris Nasreddin is the
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nasreddin Group International
Holding Limited. In addition, Nasreddin Group International Holding
Limited is one of the few entities with which Akida Bank conducts
business.
15. Nasco Nasreddin Holding A.S.
Fully 67.5 percent of the outstanding voting capital of Nasco
Nasreddin Holding A.S. is owned by Nasreddin International Group
Limited Holding, an entity owned or controlled by Nasreddin. In
addition, Nasreddin also holds 1.875% of the voting capital in his
own name. Nasco Nasreddin Holding A.S. is an affiliate of Akida
Bank.
16. Nascotex S.A.
Nasreddin is the Chief Executive of Nascotex S.A., which is also an
affiliate of Akida Bank and one of a few entities with which Akida
Bank conducts business.
17. Nasreddin Foundation
According to corporate documents from 2000, the Nasreddin
Foundation owns a vast majority of shares of Akida Bank, affording
Ahmed Idris Nasreddin and the Nasreddin Foundation ownership
and control of Akida Bank. Although the Nasreddin Foundation
(a.k.a. Nasreddin Stiftung) has been dissolved since at least 1993,
the company, or at least its name, has been used in business
transactions as recently as 2000.
18. Ba Taqwa for Commerce and Real Estate Company Limited
Youssef Nada and Ali Ghaleb Himmat, both persons designated by
the United States on November 7, 2001, and by the United Nations
on November 9, 2001, are identified as principals of Ba Taqwa for
Commerce and Real Estate Company Limited.
19. Miga-Malaysian Swiss, Gulf and African Chamber
Ahmed Idris Nasreddin is identified as the President of Miga-
Malaysian Swiss, Gulf and African Chamber, and exercises sole
signatory authority on behalf of the organization.
20. Gulf Center S.R.L.
Ahmed Idris Nasreddin is the Sole Administrator of Gulf Center
S.R.L.
21. Nascoservice S.R.L.
Ahmed Idris Nasreddin is the Sole Administrator of Nascoservice
S.R.L.
22. NASCO Business Residence Center SAS Di Nasreddin Ahmed
Idris EC
Ahmed Idris Nasreddin is identified as the unlimited partner of
NASCO Business Residence Center.
23. Nasreddin Company Nasco SAS Di Ahmed Idris Nasreddin EC
Ahmed Idris Nasreddin is the unlimited partner of Nasreddin
Company Nasco SAS Di Ahmed Idris Nasreddin EC.
24. Nada International Anstalt
Youssef Nada and Ali Ghaleb Himmat, both persons designated by
the United States on November 7, 2001, and by the United Nations
on November 9, 2001, are identified as principals of Nada
International Anstalt.
25. Nasreddin International Group Limited Holding
Ahmed Idris Nasreddin was an original member of the Board of
Directors of Nasreddin International Group Limited Holding when the
company was founded in 1977. Since the late 1980s the company
has been administered by a holding company though the company
still bears Nasreddin's name. Nasreddin International Group Limited
Holding is an affiliate of Akida Bank.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs,
U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This site is produced and maintained by the U.S. Department of
State's Office of International Information Programs
(usinfo.state.gov).
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