US government designates alleged al-Qaeda network in Brazil
The US government has said in the past that Middle Eastern armed groups are operating in South America.
The US government designated several men as terrorists today for allegedly participating in a Brazil-based al-Qaeda network.
Haytham Ahmad Shukri Ahmad al-Maghribi was placed on the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Maghribi arrived in Brazil in 2015 and allegedly conducted foreign currency purchases with Ahmed Mohammed Hamed Ali, who is allegedly al-Qaeda’s “contact” in Brazil. Ali was designated a terrorist in 2001, the US Department of the Treasury said in a press release.
The Treasury Department also designated Mohamed Sherif Mohamed Mohamed Awadd as a terrorist. Awadd came to Brazil in 2018 and allegedly received financial transfers from other al-Qaeda associates. He also allegedly provided unspecified support to Mohamed Ahmed Elsayed Ahmed Ibrahim, who is also a designated terrorist. Another man in Brazil, Ahmad al-Khatib, was also designated for allegedly doing business with Ibrahim, according to the department.
The department said that Awadd is the owner of Home Elegance Comercio de Moveis EIRELI, a Sau Paolo-based furniture company. The company did not immediately respond to Al-Monitor’s request for comment.
