Terror organization: Hezbollah;

Status: Hezbollah financier;

Role: Firas Ahmad, Nazem Said Ahmad’s son, handles many of his father’s business affairs in South Africa. Firas Ahmad is the director of South Africa-based diamond company Mega Gems (PTY) LTD (Mega Gems) and controls another diamond company, Thula Uzwe Trading, also in South Africa.;

Location: South Africa;

Born: 14 May 1991;

Place of Birth: South Africa;

Gender: Male;

Nationality: South Africa; Belgium;

Citizen: Belgium;

Address: 76 Waterstone Drive, Benmore Gardens, Johannesburg, South Africa;

Known also as: AHMAD, Firas; AHMAD, Firas Michae;

Passport: EH454630 (Belgium); 712211555 (United States); EJ586315 (Belgium) expires 23 Sep 2017; RL3752510 (Lebanon) expires 10 May 2021;

Identification Number: 9105146334188 (South Africa)

Activities:
Ahmad, a diamond dealer, is a prominent Lebanon-based money launderer and significant Hizballah financier.

Firas Ahmad obfuscated his ultimate beneficial ownership of Mega Gems through a front company, Oriental Dynasty Limited, directed by his wife, Rim Nasser, who acted as a nominee shareholder. Concealment of his ultimate beneficial ownership is a common tactic used by Nazem Said Ahmad, which his children have also adopted to insulate themselves from legal scrutiny and assist in sanctions evasion schemes on behalf of their father

Many of the transactions listed in the ledgers recorded the movement of cash to Lebanon for use by Nazem Said Ahmad or remitted to Firas Ahmad or Rami Baker for their personal or business operations

Fadi Sader, a dual Canadian-South African national of Lebanese origin, has provided material support to Firas Ahmad. Fadi Sader directs, owns, or controls Hong Kong-based House of Art Limited, Hong Kong-based Fadico HK Limited, and South Africa-based Fadico S A CC

Mohamad Wehbe, a Lebanese national and co-director of Mega Gems and sole director of Gavia Tradings (PTY) LTD, provided material support to Firas Ahmad by handling a variety of business operation functions for Firas Ahmad’s business ventures in South Africa

Fadi Abbas Saad conducted transactions for funds in the interest of Firas Ahmad in a money laundering layering scheme. Fadi Abbas Saad was also Firas Ahmad’s proxy director and shareholder of Oriental Dynasty Limited from 2015 to 2018, prior to Firas Ahmad’s wife Rim Nasser relieving him of this position.

Firas Ahmad is designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Nazem Said Ahmad;