US Sanctions Islamic State Group Affiliates in Maldives

The U.S. this week sanctioned “key leaders” and financial facilitators of the Islamic State group and al-Qaida in Maldives, including 20 operatives and 29 of their companies. The designations also target Maldives-based terrorist-affiliated criminal gangs, including people who have carried out attacks that targeted journalists and local authorities.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control designations target Jinaau Naseem, the leader of the Islamic State groups’ affiliated cell in Addu City, Maldives, along with other members. Also designated were Sky Nova Investment and New Sun Investments Pvt Ltd., companies owned by Mohamed Naushad Shareef, a member of the Addu City cell; and Ahmed Alif Rauf, Mohamed Inthif Rauf, and Ibrahim Aleef Rauf, leaders of the Maldives-based criminal gang Kuda Henveyru. Other sanctions target associates of an Islamic State group recruiter and al-Qaida and their companies.