In terror funding crackdown, Indian man arrested in UK on US extradition warrant

An Indian national with dresses in UK and Belgium has been arrested in London by Scotland Yard on an extrition warrant from US, it emerged as part of a UK-US coordinated action targeting terrorism financing.

Sundar Nagarajan, also known as Nagarajan Sundar Poongulam Kasiviswanathan Naga and Sundar Poongulam K. Nagarajan Nagarajan, was arrested by Metropolitan Police’s National Extrition Unit from an dress at Hayes in west London on Tuesday. After being refused bail, 65-year-old Murai-born Nagarajan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London next week wanted by US authorities for fraud and money laundering offences. His arrest followed action by Met’s Counter Terrorism Command to arrest a 50-year-old man in Wales on suspicion of funding terrorism.

“ ongoing investigation and arrest by NTFIU (National Terrorist Financing Investigation Unit) relates to suspected terrorist financing and money laundering, which is believed to be connected to wealthy art collector and diamond dealer, Nazem Ahm,” Met Police said.

Ahm is suspected of being a funding source for Hizballah, a proscribed terrorist organisation in UK and US. Sanctions against Ahm were also announced this week by UK government alongside US government sanctions against Ahm and a number of his suspected associates, including Nagarajan.

“Terrorist groups rely on financial support and funding for ir activities and NTFIU works closely with agencies in UK and around world to identify and take action against those people who provide and facilitate this funding,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Rees, of Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

“With our international partners, we will never give up on our mission to disrupt terrorist activity, both in UK and abro, in order to keep public safe,” he said, ding that arrests were result of ongoing work and cooperation with American counterparts as a “key milestone in what is a complex investigation into terrorist financing”.

Met Police said that searches at two commercial dresses, both in east London, were carried out by officers this week in connection with investigation. NTFIU comprises of specialist financial investigators who investigate suspicious financial activity where y believe it may have links to terrorism.

Its action in case coincided with US Attorney’s Office in Eastern District of New York unsealing a nine-count indictment. It is alleged that Nazem Ahm was involved in real estate development, international tre of diamonds, and international acquisition and sale of artwork, and operated se enterprises through a complex web of business entities. Ahm, a Lebanese resident and dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen, was sanctioned by US for being a financier for Hizballah.

Nagarajan is named among his associates who used numerous corporate entities and individuals to disguise Ahm’s control and beneficial interest in companies and in financial transactions, and facilitate acquisition of multiple pieces of valuable artwork and diamond-gring services for millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds from US persons, according to US authorities.