Hawalas used to disguise terrorism funds, police say

What you need to know:

  • Also investigated is the smuggling of sugar and electronics through the port of Kismayu in Somalia into Kenya, which detectives established as another source of Al-Shabaab funding.
  • On Wednesday, the US Department of State blocked two senior Al-Shabaab officials behind the recent Garissa University College terrorist attack from assessing their assets.
  • On Wednesday, the US Department of State blocked two senior Al-Shabaab officials behind the recent Garissa University College terrorist attack from assessing their assets.

Investigations have revealed that owners of foreign exchange agencies and individuals suspected of funding terrorism use the hawala money transfer system to avoid detection.

The finding was made after the conclusion of the interrogation of suspects linked to terrorism on April 17. Police established that money was sent through members of particular clans.

Premises disguised as cybercafes, forex bureaus, or exhibitions, according to detectives, are used as hawala transaction centres.

Early this month, Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet published the names of individuals, organisations and foreign exchange bureaus suspected to be aiding terrorists in the Kenya Gazette. The suspects’ accounts were frozen.

The suspects appeared before six detectives drawn from the National Intelligence Service and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit.

SMUGGLING OF SUGAR

They answered a 10-page questionnaire on their finances in the last two years, bank statements, company ownership and phone details.

Also investigated is the smuggling of sugar and electronics through the port of Kismayu in Somalia into Kenya, which detectives established as another source of Al-Shabaab funding.

An intelligence report links two senior politicians from northeatern Kenyan to the smuggling. The sugar is repackaged at a godown in Thika.

One organisation summoned is the Muslims for Human Rights, whose officials denied links to Al-Shabaab.

A suspect, who had been interrogated by police, told the Nation he saw his name in the media and travelled to Nairobi from Garbatula.

“I was given questions to answer and told to return home,” he said.

On Wednesday, the US Department of State blocked two senior Al-Shabaab officials behind the recent Garissa University College terrorist attack from assessing their assets.

The ban affects Al-Shabaab leader in Somalia Ahmed Diriye and Mr Mahad Karate of the intelligence wing.

Mr Diriye became the terror group’s leader following the killing of Mr Ahmed Abdi Godane in September 2014.