OFAC Sanctions East African Weapons-Trafficking Network
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned eight individuals connected with weapons trafficking in Somalia, according to a Nov. 1 notice. The action targets Islamic State in Somalia and its network of weapons traffickers, their associates, and an affiliated business that have "facilitated weapons transfers to multiple terrorist groups" and follows up on the recent designations of al-Shabaab financial facilitators and weapons smugglers (see 2210170069), OFAC said. These networks operate primarily between Yemen and Somalia and have strong ties to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and al-Shabaab. OFAC also designated an ISIS supporter in Brazil, who the office says has attempted to serve as a liaison between terrorist groups.
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“Today, we take direct aim at the networks funding and supplying both ISIS-Somalia and al-Shabaab that support their violent acts. The involvement of those designated today in other criminal activity, including piracy and illegal fishing, demonstrates the extent of ISIS-Somalia’s integration with illicit networks and other terrorist organizations operating in the region. Treasury is committed to working with partners in the region to disrupt the financing of ISIS and al-Shabaab," said Brian Nelson, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, in a Nov. 1 news release.