WASHINGTON:
The US today slapped sanctions against two Indians, including a brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and a Pakistan-based paper company for their ties with D Company.
Designation of two long-time members of D Company, Shaikh Anis Ibrahim Kaskar (Anis Ibrahim), the brother of Dawood Ibrahim, and Aziz Moosa Bilakhia (Bilakhia), comes less than a fortnight before US President Barack Obama’s visit ot India.
Anis is known to be involved in narcotics trafficking, extortion, contract killings, and money laundering on behalf of D Company. He is also accused of involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
The Treasury also targeted Mehran Paper Mill, a Pakistan-based paper company owned or controlled by Ibrahim.
Bilakhia works directly for Anis and Dawood and manages extortion, enforcement, and debt collection activities for D Company.
Bilakhia has been involved with D Company since at least the 1993 Mumbai bombings, for which he is wanted by Indian authorities, the Treasury said in a statement.
The United States and India in a joint statement after the September 30 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Obama had pledged co-operation in curbing the activities of the Pakistan-based Dawood Ibrahim, who runs a criminal network in South Asia.
“Today, the United States is targeting D Company, a violent organisation notorious for its drug trafficking activities and terrorism,” said Adam J Szubin, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“Combatting transnational organised crime is a top US priority, and we will continue to expose the activities of D Company and the underpinnings of criminal financial networks worldwide,” he added. (AGENCIES)
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