In a move to disrupt the financial operations of the terrorist organization al-Shabaab, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has designated a network of individuals and entities involved in money laundering activities on behalf of the group. The illicit financial network spans the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and several Eastern African countries.
Dubai-based Haleel Commodities L.L.C., also known as Haleel Group, has been identified as a key financial facilitator for al-Shabaab. The organization relies on Haleel Group’s leaders, branches, and subsidiaries in Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Cyprus to raise and launder funds. Among its subsidiaries in Cyprus are Haleel Finance LTD, Haleel Holdings, and Haleel LTD. In Kenya, it operates as Haleel Commodities Limited, and in Uganda, it functions as Haleel Commodities LTD. In Somalia, the group operates under the name Haleel Electronics.
UAE-based Qemat Al Najah General Trading has played a crucial role as a money laundering node in the network, facilitating the management and transfer of funds for al-Shabaab in connection with Haleel Group.
Kenya-based Faysal Yusuf Dini has been identified as an al-Shabaab financial facilitator, leveraging Haleel Group and its leadership to transfer funds on behalf of the terrorist organization. Dini collaborates closely with Mohamed Jumale Ali Awale in planning investment projects and money laundering activities. This includes the management of al-Shabaab funds laundered through projects and companies, such as Crown Bus Services in Kenya, which has also supported the group’s logistical operations.
The network extends to Finland, where Hassan Abdirahman Mahamed, a Somali citizen, utilizes money transfer and hawala businesses to support al-Shabaab’s money laundering operations linked to the Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading. In the UAE, Mohamed Artan Robel is identified as another member of this money laundering network supporting al-Shabaab through Haleel Group and Qemat Al Najah General Trading. Somalia-based Abdikarin Farah Mohamed is also a key member of the network.
Notably, a significant portion of the network operates in Uganda. Abdulkadir Omar Abdullahi, associated with Haleel Group’s Uganda branch as its director, along with Omar Sheikh Ali Hilowle and Farhan Hussein Hayder, has played a role in managing and transferring funds for al-Shabaab.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s actions target these individuals and entities, aiming to disrupt the financial networks that enable al-Shabaab’s illicit activities. The move underscores the international effort to combat terrorism financing and prevent the flow of funds to extremist groups. The Treasury’s designation serves as a strong message against those who support terrorism, emphasizing the commitment to dismantle the financial infrastructure that sustains such organizations.