By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The U.S Department of the Treasury has named a Ugandan registered company among others actively laundering money for the Somali based Al Shabaab fighters.
Haleel Commodities LTD, Uganda is one of the companies the U.S is accusing of being involved in the raising and laundering of millions of dollars through several businesses at the direction and in the interest of Al Shabaab.
Haleel Commodities LTD, Uganda is a subsidiary of Dubai based Haleel Commodities L.L.C WHICH America has designated as the key financial facilitator for Al Shabaab.
The press statement by the Treasury dated today, 12th March, 2024 lists the other companies as Haleel Finance LTD, Haleel Holdings and Haleel Ltd in Cyprus, and Haleel Commodities LTD in Kenya.
U.S also names UAE based Qemat Al Najah General Trading as a leading link between Haleel and Al Shabaab playing the role of transferring money from Haleel Group of Companies to Al Shabaab.
Individuals named in this laundering network are; Kenyan based Faisal Yusuf Dini who allegedly works closely with another Kenyan based Mohamed Jumale Awale.
Finland based Hassan Abdirahman Muhamed of Somali nationality is another key figure the US accuses of using money transfer and hawala businesses to support Al Shabaab’s money laundering operations.
Others are; UAE based Mohamed Artan Robel, and Abdikarin Farah Mohamed who is based in Somalia.
Interestingly, the U.S accuses Crown Bus Services based in Kenya as one company used in facilitating Al Shabaab’s logistical operations.
Ugandan based Abdulkadir Omar Abduhali is singled out as playing a major role in transferring funds to Al Shabaab.
