Mohammed Ibrahim Bazzi is a Hezbollah financier who has fundraised millions of dollars for Hezbollah through his business activities in Belgium, Lebanon, Iraq, and West Africa.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388. He was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on May 17, 2018. Five companies owned or controlled by Bazzi were also designated by the U.S. Treasury on the same date.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388.
From 2009 to 2010, Bazzi worked with Abdallah Safi-Al-Din, Hezbollah’s representative to Iran, and the Central Bank of Iran to increase banking access between Iran and Lebanon. In 2011, Bazzi and Safi-Al-Din worked to resolve a dispute and reestablish relations between Iran and The Gambia.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388. According to the U.S. Treasury, Bazzi is a “close associate” of Yahya Jammeh, the former president of The Gambia who was sanctioned by the United States in December 2017 for his record of human rights abuses and money laundering.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388; “United States Sanctions Human Rights Abusers and Corrupt Actors Across the Globe,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 21, 2017, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0243.
Bazzi maintains ties to other U.S.-designated individuals, including Hezbollah financiers Adham Tabaja and Ali Youssef Charara.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388. He also has links to drug dealers and the U.S.-designated Ayman Joumaa Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Organization, a Lebanese drug trafficking network.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388; “Treasury Targets Major Lebanese-Based Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, January 26, 2011, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1035.aspx.
Five of Bazzi’s companies were also designated by the U.S. Treasury on May 17, 2018.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388. They included the Belgian energy services conglomerate Global Trading Group NV, the Gambian petroleum company Euro African Group LTD, as well as three Lebanon-based companies: Africa Middle East Investment Holding SAL, Premier Investment Group SAL Offshore, and Car Escort Services S.A.L. Off Shore.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388.
United States
The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated “Mohammed Ibrahim Bazzi” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 on May 17, 2018.“Treasury Targets Key Hizballah Financing Network and Iranian Conduit,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0388.
- Mohamed Bazzi“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20180517.aspx.
- Muhammad Ibrahim Bazzi“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20180517.aspx.
- Muhammed Bazzi“Counter Terrorism Designations,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, May 17, 2018, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20180517.aspx.