Terror organization: Hezbollah;

Status: Firas Ahmad is the director of South Africa-based diamond company Mega Gems;

Role: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;

Location: South Africa;

Known also as: Mega Gems (PTY) LTD (Mega Gems); XXX DIAMONDS PTY LTD;

Address: The Paragon II F1W1, 1 Krammer Road, Bedfordview, Gauteng 2007, South Africa;

Organization Established Date: 21 Jul 2015;

V.A.T. Number: 4180271522 (South Africa)

Tax ID No.: 9825071161 (South Africa)

Commercial Registry Number: 2015/252356/07 (South Africa)

Activities:
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.

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.

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. Mega Gems, a company directed and indirectly owned or controlled by Firas Ahmad, acted as a sister company with House of Art Limited to serve as the network’s conduit to clientele in Asia looking to purchase polished stones or finished jewelry, with Mega Gems serving as the intermediary to rough diamonds in Africa. Fadi Sader and his businesses also acted as a hub for art and luxury goods to be sold at or purchased from Hong Kong-based auction houses or other vendors in the Pacific, including acting as a courier for a work of art purchased on behalf of Nazem Said Ahmad, personally transporting the item from a Hong Kong auction house to Lebanon.

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. This included assisting Firas Ahmad in changing the ownership structure of South Africa-based Thula Uzwe, allowing Firas Ahmad to be the authorized representative for rough diamond purchases, with the hopes of expanding the company into new markets. Mohamad Wehbe was also a director of South Africa-based, real estate holding companies Oxfocento (PTY) LTD and Diotrix (PTY) LTD.

Bassem Murad is a Belgian national who owns, controls, or directs Antwerp, Belgium-based M.S.D., South Africa-based MSD Capital (PTY) LTD, Dubai-based MSD DMCC, and South Africa-based MSD SPRL Diamond Trading. Both Bassem Murad and MSD SPRL Diamond Trading are involved in the business venture for the design, development, and construction of a new diamond center to house the offices and facilities for Mega Gems and other diamond businesses owned or directed by the directors of Oxfocento (PTY) LTD and Diotrix (PTY) LTD. Bassem Murad also conducted transactions or acted as a pass-through for funds in the interest of Firas Ahmad in a money laundering layering scheme.

Mega Gems (PTY) LTD is designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Firas Ahmad.

House of Art Limited is being 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, Mega Gems (PTY) LTD.