In an April 18 announcement, the U.S. Treasury Department designated a “global sanctions evasion network” supporting Hezbollah with the U.S. State Department re-advertising a $10 million reward for information about Hezbollah’s “financial mechanisms.”
The latter specified information about Nazem Said Ahmad, a “specially designated global terrorist.” Since 1997, the State Department has designated Hezbollah a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
The two departments—working with the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Commerce, and with the United Kingdom—noted that the evasion network “facilitates the payment, shipment and delivery of cash, art and luxury goods” for Hezbollah’s benefit.
In December 2019, the United States sanctioned individuals and entities that launder money for Hezbollah, and then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin singled out Ahmad, for having “used money-laundering and tax-evasion schemes to fund terrorist plots” and finance his lavish lifestyle.
Ahmad, who owns a large art collection and has “blood diamond” trade ties, is reported to be a top Hezbollah donor.
