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).
Miloud Abderrahmane (Abderrahmane), based in France, Abdelhakim Boukich (Boukich), based in Syria, and Mohamad Alhmidan (Alhmidan), previously designated by OFAC in March 2016, are three such individuals that have facilitated transactions for ISIS. Abderrahmane, a French-national, has conducted transactions with known ISIS-affiliates, including some who were based in Syria. He has also provided instructional and manufacturing information on explosives to ISIS supporters.
Boukich, formerly a Dutch national and an extremist financial facilitator, controls and directs Bitcoin Xchange, a Syria-based money service business (MSB). Bitcoin Xchange was established in late 2020 by Boukich and his Syria-based associates. Boukich and Bitcoin Xchange have transferred money on behalf of ISIS associates originating from multiple countries, including Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States.
Alhmidan, an individual sanctioned in 2016 for facilitating logistical and financial support for ISIS, as well as helping support foreign terrorist fighters, also owns and controls Spider Gayrimenkul Ve Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Spider), a Turkiye-based MSB. Alkaram Danismanlik Gayrimenkul Ic Ve Dis Genel Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Alkaram), also a Turkiye-based MSB, further does business as, and operates on behalf of Spider. Originating as a hawala that operated in Syria, Spider was used to transfer money from parts of Syria under ISIS control to other regions not controlled by ISIS.
Abderrahmane, Boukich, Bitcoin Xchange, Spider, and Alkaram are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods and services to or in support of, ISIS.
Sources: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0537 and https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20260622