TITLE: U.S. Department of the Treasury Designates ISIS Facilitators and Money Service Businesses
BODY:
On June 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated three individuals and six entities across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa for facilitating financial transactions on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The action targets key facilitators who enable ISIS to move funds among its regional affiliates and protect the rights of religious minorities targeted by ISIS and ISIS-inspired violence.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, "ISIS continues to seek new methods and tools to finance terrorist attacks. The United States will leverage every tool at its disposal to crush ISIS's remaining capabilities and protect American lives." The designations were made pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, which authorises counterterrorism sanctions.
The designated individuals include Miloud Abderrahmane (France-based), Abdelhakim Boukich (Syria-based), and Mohamad Alhmidan (previously designated in March 2016). Abderrahmane conducted transactions with known ISIS affiliates and provided explosives manufacturing information to ISIS supporters. Boukich controls Bitcoin Xchange, a Syria-based money service business (MSB) established in late 2020 that transferred funds on behalf of ISIS associates from multiple countries including Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States. Alhmidan owns Spider Gayrimenkul Ve Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Spider), a Turkiye-based MSB, with Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic Ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Alkaram) operating on its behalf. Spider originated as a hawala operating in Syria and transferred money from ISIS-controlled regions to other areas.
Additionally, OFAC designated Mukhtar Adamu Muhammad, a Nigeria-based ISIS in West Africa (ISIS-WA) financial facilitator, and three Nigeria-based MSBs he owns or controls: Nine to Nine Exchange Bureau de Change Limited, Manhattan Bureau de Change Limited, and Generation Currency Bureau de Change Limited.
As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the designated persons in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting transactions involving blocked persons. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties. Non-U.S. persons are prohibited from causing U.S. persons to violate sanctions or engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions.