U.S. Sanctions Alleged Hizbullah Network in Africa
The U.S. Treasury Department has said that it placed sanctions on an Africa-based Hizbullah support network.
Mustapha Fawaz, Fouzi Fawaz, and Abdallah Tahini were sanctioned for acting for or on behalf of Hizbullah in Nigeria, the Treasury said in a statement.
“Amigo Supermarket Limited, Wonderland Amusement Park and Resort Ltd, and Kafak Enterprises Limited have also been designated ... for being owned or controlled by Mustapha and Fouzi Fawaz,” it said.
“Any property or interests in property these individuals or entities may have within U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them,” the statement added.
Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam J. Szubin said the U.S. “will track Hizbullah’s illicit activities to all corners of the earth.”
“Together with our international partners, we are tirelessly working to dismantle Hizbullah’s financial apparatus. Wherever this terrorist group may seek to raise funds, we will target and expose its activity,” he added.
According to the Treasury, Mustapha Fawaz has been “a significant donor” to Hizbullah. He was detained in mid-May 2013 by Nigerian authorities.
Since the 1990s, he has been involved in activities related to communications, surveillance, and reporting for Hizbullah, it said.
His brother Fouzi was also an official with Hizbullah’s foreign relations department, it said, adding Nigerian authorities issued an arrest warrant for him in 2013.
Together, the Fawaz brothers co-own a 70% share of Amigo Supermarket, as well as 100% of the shares of Wonderland Amusement Park & Resort Ltd. in Abuja and Kafak Enterprises Ltd., a holding company, the Treasury said.
Tahini was targeted with sanctions after being arrested in May 2013 for being a Hizbullah member in Nigeria, it said. Mustapha Fawaz and Tahini were both released from custody in late-November 2013 after being cleared of terrorism charges.
They both have denied allegations against them.
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Source: Naharnet
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