The US Treasury Department has frozen the assets of four individuals with alleged ties to the Islamic State (ISIS) and a human smuggling network. The individuals, identified as Adam Khamirzaev from the Republic of Georgia and three men from Uzbekistan – Muhammadyusuf Alisher Ogli Mirzoev, Muhammad Ibrohimjon Niyazov, and Olimkhon Makhmudjon Ugli Ismailov – are accused of being involved with the terrorist organization.
Khamirzaev, an ISIS leader, has been officially designated a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” by the Treasury Department. The other three men are members of the ISIS-linked smuggling network, according to officials. The department did not provide information on the duration of the group’s operation or the number of people it had smuggled.
As a result of the sanctions, any property owned by the men in the US is frozen, Americans are prohibited from conducting business with them, and anyone who does engage could face similar sanctions.
The investigation that led to the sanctions was conducted in “close cooperation” with Turkiye, also known as Turkey. Meanwhile, eight men from Tajikistan arrested earlier this week are being held on immigration violations after entering the country through the southern border last spring and passing through the government’s screening process without raising any terrorism-related concerns at the time.
A source told Truth Voices that due to a lack of international cooperation, authorities don’t have access to other countries’ databases unless a host country issues an international alert. Additionally, there is a trend of migrants leaving their identification documents at the border, making it harder for authorities to identify and vet them.
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently testified before Congress about the increased national security threats posed by open borders, stating that many individuals are initially cleared but later raise red flags.
