US Sanctions Al Shabaab Financiers, Money Launderers In UAE And EAC Including Crown Bus

The US Department of the Treasury on Monday imposed sanctions on what it said was an international fundraising and money-laundering network for the Al Shabaab militant group operating in Somalia.

The sanctions targeted 16 entities and individuals across the Horn of Africa region, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, the Treasury said in a statement.

The action, which follows US sanctions against a separate network linked to al Shabaab in October 2022, freeze any US assets of those targeted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.

It said Al Shabaab, which Washington considers a terrorist group, generates over $100 million a year, including by extorting local businesses.

Al Shabaab, linked to Al Qaeda, has been waging an insurgency against the Somali government since 2006 in a bid to establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

“The threat posed by al-Shabaab is not limited to Somalia,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

“Al-Shabaab’s revenues are disbursed to other al-Qa’ida-linked groups worldwide and help fund al-Qa’ida’s global ambitions to commit acts of terrorism and undermine good governance.”

AL-SHABAAB MONEY LAUNDERERS IN THE UAE AND EASTERN AFRICA

According to the statement, network of individuals and entities sanctioned have been involved in the raising and laundering of millions of dollars through several businesses at the direction and in the interest of al-Shabaab.

Dubai-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C., also known as Haleel Group, is a key financial facilitator for al-Shabaab, which relies on the leaders of Haleel Group, as well as its branches and subsidiaries in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Cyprus to generate and launder funds.  Haleel Group’s subsidiaries in Cyprus include Haleel Finance LTD, Haleel Holdings, and Haleel LTD; the group also has branches in Kenya (Haleel Commodities Limited) and Uganda (Haleel Commodities LTD) and operates as Haleel Electronics in Somalia.

UAE-based Qemat Al Najah General Trading has served as an important money laundering node in the network, and helped  manage and transfer funds for al-Shabaab in connection with Haleel Group.

Kenya-based Faysal Yusuf Dini (Dini) is an al-Shabaab financial facilitator who leverages Haleel Group and some of its leadership to transfer funds on behalf of al-Shabaab.  He also works closely with Kenya-based Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale (Awale) to plan investment projects and money laundering activities.  This includes managing al-Shabaab funds laundered through investment projects and companies, including through Kenya-based Crown Bus Services.  Crown Bus Services has also supported al-Shabaab’s logistical operations.

Crown Bus.

Hassan Abdirahman Mahamed, a Finland-based Somali citizen, uses money transfer and hawala businesses to support al-Shabaab’s money laundering operations linked to the network of Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading.  UAE-based Mohamed Artan Robel is another member of this money laundering network supporting al-Shabaab through the Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading.  Abdikarin Farah Mohamed is a Somalia-based key member of this money laundering network.

Farhan Hussein Hayder (Hayder) directs and manages Haleel Group’s branches in Kenya, Uganda, Cyprus, and the UAE, and supports al-Shabaab by generating funds for the group through these businesses.

A notable part of this network is active in Uganda.  Specifically, Abdulkadir Omar Abdullahi (Abdullahi), is associated with Haleel Group’s Uganda branch as its director, along with Omar Sheikh Ali Hilowle (Hilowle) and Hayder.  In his role, Abdullahi has managed and transferred funds for al-Shabaab.

Farhan Hussein Hayder, Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale, Abdulkadir Omar Abdullahi, and Qemat Al Najah General Trading are being sanctioned, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, al-Shabaab, a person whose property is and interest in property are blocked pursuant to the sanction orders.

Faysal Yusuf Dini, Omar Sheikh Ali Hilowle, Abdikarin Farah Mohamed, and Mohamed Artan Robel are being sanctioned for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Shabaab, a person whose property and interest in property are also affected.

Hassan Abdirahman Mahamed is being sanctioned for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Haleel Commodities L.L.C.

UAE-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C., is being sanctioned, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, al-Shabaab.

Cyprus-based Haleel Finance LTD, Haleel Holdings, and Haleel LTD are being sanctioned for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Haleel Commodities L.L.C.

Kenya-based Haleel Commodities Limited and Crown Bus Services are being sanctioned for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale.

Uganda-based Haleel Commodities LTD is sanctioned for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Farhan Hussein Hayder.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.  OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons.

Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions with the individuals sanctioned entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224. OFAC is authorized to prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law.

Additionally, OFAC has updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List:

SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS LIST UPDATE

The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

ABDULLAHI, Abdulkadir Omar (a.k.a. ABDILAHI, Abdi Xamiid Omar; a.k.a. OMAR, Abdullahi Abdul Kadir), Uganda; DOB 01 Jan 1962; POB Mandera, Kenya; nationality Kenya; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Passport BK042853 (Kenya) (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

AWALE, Mohamed Jumale Ali, Langata Royal Park Lr 19952/476, Nairobi West/P.O. Box 634-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; DOB 07 Jul 1959; alt. DOB 31 Dec 1959; alt. DOB 01 Jan 1959; POB Mombasa, Kenya; nationality Somalia; alt. nationality Kenya; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; National ID No. 5964769 (Kenya) (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

DINI, Faysal Yusuf (a.k.a. DIINI, Abdiaziz Yuusuf; a.k.a. DINI, Abdulaziz Youssouf; a.k.a. DINI, Abdulaziz Yusuf; a.k.a. DINI, Cabdicasiis Yusuf; a.k.a. DINI, Feisal Yussuf; a.k.a. DINI, Feyself Yusuf; a.k.a. HILOWLE, Abdiaziz Yusuf Dini; a.k.a. HILOWLE, Cabdicasis Yusuf Diini), Madena Estate, House #4, South C, Nairobi, Kenya; Djibouti; DOB 01 Jan 1971; POB Galkayo, Somalia; nationality Somalia; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Passport 19RF00115 (Djibouti) expires 13 Nov 2022 (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

HAYDAR, Farhan Hussein (a.k.a. HAIDER, Farhan Hussein), Somalia; South C, Monari Estate House No. 101, Nairobi, Kenya; DOB 1986; nationality Kenya; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; National ID No. 27478723 (Kenya) (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

HILOWLE, Omar Sheikh Ali, Uganda; DOB 1981; nationality Somalia; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Passport P00238720 (Somalia); Tax ID No. 1010041103 (Somalia) (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

MAHAMED, Hassan Abdirahman, Helsinki, Finland; DOB 23 May 1987; nationality Somalia; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886 (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: HALEEL COMMODITIES L.L.C.).

MOHAMED, Abdikarin Farah (a.k.a. MUHAMMAD, Abdul Karim Farge), United Arab Emirates; Somalia; DOB 13 Sep 1993; nationality Somalia; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Passport P00689508 (Somalia) (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

ROBEL, Mohammed Artan (a.k.a. ROBLE, Mohammed Artan), United Arab Emirates; DOB 12 Jul 1964; nationality Sweden; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886 (individual) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

CROWN BUS SERVICES LIMITED (a.k.a. CROWN BUS SERVICES LTD), Plot LR No. 4275/67, The Office Park, Riverside Drive, Nairobi, Kenya; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Registration Number C110486 (Kenya) [SDGT] (Linked To: AWALE, Mohamed Jumale Ali).

HALEEL COMMODITIES L.L.C. (a.k.a. “HALEEL GROUP”), Office 601-A, P.O. Box 172532, Deira Twin Tower, Baniyas Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Makkah Almukarramah Ave. 3, Mogadishu, Somalia; Website http://haleelcommodities.com; alt. Website www.haleel.co; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Commercial Registry Number 1052074 (United Arab Emirates); Certificate of Incorporation Number SCCI/1260/19 (Somalia); License 632562 (United Arab Emirates); Chamber of Commerce Number 178704 (United Arab Emirates) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).

HALEEL COMMODITIES LIMITED, Starehe, Starehe District, Nairobi, Kenya; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 30 Jan 2017; Trade License No. PVTAAABNC3 (Kenya) [SDGT] (Linked To: AWALE, Mohamed Jumale Ali).

HALEEL COMMODITIES LTD (a.k.a. HALEEL COMMODITIES LIMITED), King Fahad Plaza, Kampala, Uganda; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 25 Apr 2016; Company Number 80010001140329 / 220184 (Uganda) [SDGT] (Linked To: HAYDAR, Farhan Hussein).

HALEEL FINANCE LTD, Nicosia, Cyprus; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 15 Mar 2018; Registration Number HE381288 (Cyprus) [SDGT] (Linked To: HALEEL COMMODITIES L.L.C.).

HALEEL HOLDINGS LTD, Zena Kanther 4, Agia Triada 3035, Limassol, Cyprus; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 08 Nov 2017; Registration Number HE375900 (Cyprus) [SDGT] (Linked To: HALEEL COMMODITIES L.L.C.).

HALEEL LTD, Zena Kanther 4, Agia Triada 3035, Limassol, Cyprus; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 18 Aug 2017; Registration Number HE372894 (Cyprus) [SDGT] (Linked To: HALEEL COMMODITIES L.L.C.).

QEMAT AL NAJAH GENERAL TRADING L.L.C (a.k.a. QEMAT AL NAJAH GENERAL TRADING LTD; a.k.a. QEMAT ALNAJAH GENERAL TRADING LLC; a.k.a. QEMAT AL-NAJAH GENERAL TRADING LLC; a.k.a. QEMATAL NAJAH GENERAL TRADING LLC), Baniyas Square Road, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Dubai Towers, 8, 14 Road, 8 Floor, Office 805, Al Rigga, P.O. Box 95871, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Al Maktoum Road, Baniyas Square, Dubai Tower, Deira, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Established Date 03 Apr 2012; Organization Type: Non-specialized wholesale trade; Commercial Registry Number 1096167(United Arab Emirates); License 668354 (United Arab Emirates); Chamber of Commerce Number 203853 (United Arab Emirates) [SDGT] (Linked To: AL-SHABAAB).