From the new UNSEMG report:
Annex 4.4: Al-Shabaab and heroin trafficking
29. The eruption of the Syria conflict in 2011, as well as improved law enforcement measures along traditional heroin smuggling routes, has resulted in East Africa increasingly being used as a route to traffic heroin from Afghanistan into Europe.
Commentators have speculated that Al-Shabaab earns revenue off the East Africa heroin trade, though no conclusive evidence has yet been presented to support this claim.
30. Pursuant to its investigations into the financing of Al-Shabaab, the Monitoring Group has received credible information regarding the MV Amin Darya (IMO #8630784), a vessel carrying as much as 800 kg of heroin intercepted on 15 July 2014 by Kenyan authorities and subsequently destroyed. Nine foreign nationals were arrested in Kenya over the bust: six Pakistanis, two Indians and an Iranian.
31. The group's information indicates that the vessel stopped for 10 days off the coast of Hobyo, in Central Somalia, prior to proceeding towards Kenya. During that time it took on supplies as well as gunmen possibly affiliated with Al-Shabaab who later disembarked. A businessman in Dubai, also possibly with links to Al-Shabaab, was in continual contact with the traffickers. The Monitoring Group has ascertained the name of this businessman to be Javed Ali. Ali was reportedly in continual contact with the arrested traffickers through the phone selector 971 556 930 803, and he has been linked the email address ali33@yahoo.com. The Monitoring Group attempted on multiple occasions, beginning in May 2015, to contact Javed Ali through both his email address and mobile phone, but both appeared to be inactive. The Dubai-based company A. Ebrahimi & Partners appointed one of the suspects who was intended to serve as the clearing agent in Mombasa for the seized vessel.
32. The Monitoring Group sent official correspondence to the UAE on 5 August 2015 requesting detailed information concerning Javed Ali and A. Ebrahimi & Partners/Ebrahim A.M. and their possible links to Al-Shabaab, but did not receive a response.
33. Although Al-Shabaab maintains a presence in Hobyo, it is not a major base of operations for the group. It is therefore possible that the crew of the MV Amin Darya was involved in smuggling of other goods into central Somalia, unconnected to Al-Shabaab. Over the course of its mandate, the Monitoring Group has received numerous unconfirmed reports of Iran-flagged vessels involved in the transport of weapons and fuel to central Somalia. The Group also notes that Javed Ali, the Dubai businessman in contact with the traffickers, bears an Iranian name.
34. The Group is continuing its investigation into Al-Shabaab's possible links to heroin trafficking.
Annex 4.4: Al-Shabaab and heroin trafficking
29. The eruption of the Syria conflict in 2011, as well as improved law enforcement measures along traditional heroin smuggling routes, has resulted in East Africa increasingly being used as a route to traffic heroin from Afghanistan into Europe.
Commentators have speculated that Al-Shabaab earns revenue off the East Africa heroin trade, though no conclusive evidence has yet been presented to support this claim.
30. Pursuant to its investigations into the financing of Al-Shabaab, the Monitoring Group has received credible information regarding the MV Amin Darya (IMO #8630784), a vessel carrying as much as 800 kg of heroin intercepted on 15 July 2014 by Kenyan authorities and subsequently destroyed. Nine foreign nationals were arrested in Kenya over the bust: six Pakistanis, two Indians and an Iranian.
31. The group's information indicates that the vessel stopped for 10 days off the coast of Hobyo, in Central Somalia, prior to proceeding towards Kenya. During that time it took on supplies as well as gunmen possibly affiliated with Al-Shabaab who later disembarked. A businessman in Dubai, also possibly with links to Al-Shabaab, was in continual contact with the traffickers. The Monitoring Group has ascertained the name of this businessman to be Javed Ali. Ali was reportedly in continual contact with the arrested traffickers through the phone selector 971 556 930 803, and he has been linked the email address ali33@yahoo.com. The Monitoring Group attempted on multiple occasions, beginning in May 2015, to contact Javed Ali through both his email address and mobile phone, but both appeared to be inactive. The Dubai-based company A. Ebrahimi & Partners appointed one of the suspects who was intended to serve as the clearing agent in Mombasa for the seized vessel.
32. The Monitoring Group sent official correspondence to the UAE on 5 August 2015 requesting detailed information concerning Javed Ali and A. Ebrahimi & Partners/Ebrahim A.M. and their possible links to Al-Shabaab, but did not receive a response.
33. Although Al-Shabaab maintains a presence in Hobyo, it is not a major base of operations for the group. It is therefore possible that the crew of the MV Amin Darya was involved in smuggling of other goods into central Somalia, unconnected to Al-Shabaab. Over the course of its mandate, the Monitoring Group has received numerous unconfirmed reports of Iran-flagged vessels involved in the transport of weapons and fuel to central Somalia. The Group also notes that Javed Ali, the Dubai businessman in contact with the traffickers, bears an Iranian name.
34. The Group is continuing its investigation into Al-Shabaab's possible links to heroin trafficking.
