Overview

Hussain Tajideen is a U.S.-designated fundraiser for Hezbollah and prominent Hezbollah supporter.“Treasury Targets Hezbollah Financial Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 9, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg997.aspx. According to a 2010 U.S. Treasury designation, Hussain and his brothers, Ali and Kassim Tajideen, own a network of businesses from which they direct tens of millions of dollarsDavid Lewis, “Insight: U.S. and allies target Hezbollah financing, ties in Africa,” Reuters, September 20, 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/20/us-syria-crisis-hezbollah-africa-insight-idUSBRE98J04L20130920. to Hezbollah.“Treasury Targets Hezbollah Financial Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 9, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg997.aspx. Hussain reportedly fundraised for Hezbollah from inside Gambia until Gambian government expelled him on “profiteering” charges in June 2013. Hussain found his way back into Gambia, but was expelled in early June 2015 for his alleged ties to Hezbollah.“Gambia expels Lebanese businessman accused of Hezbollah ties,” Reuters Africa, June 2, 2015, http://af.reuters.com/article/drcNews/idAFL5N0YO49P20150602. It is unclear where he currently resides.David Lewis, “Insight: U.S. and allies target Hezbollah financing, ties in Africa,” Reuters, September 20, 2013, http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/20/us-syria-crisis-hezbollah-africa-insight-idUSBRE98J04L20130920.

With the funds procured from one of their businesses, “Tajco Company LLC,” the Tajideen brothers have purchased and developed properties in Lebanon for use by Hezbollah. As of March 2006, Hussain reportedly served as the managing director and owned 50 percent of the Tajco Ltd branch in Banjul, Gambia.“Treasury Targets Hezbollah Financial Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 9, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg997.aspx.

In the 2010 statement announcing the designation of the Tajideen brothers and their network of businesses including Tajco and Congo Futur, the Department of Treasury noted that “[a]s of mid-2007, the Tajideen brothers were running cover companies in the food and diamond trade for [Hezbollah].”  In a statement accompanying the announcement, former Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey added that “Ali and [Hussain] Tajideen’s multinational network generates millions of dollars in funding and secures strategic geographical strongholds for [Hezbollah].”“Treasury Targets Hizballah Financial Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 9, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg997.aspx.

Companies owned or operated by the Tajideen brothers include Tajco, Kairaba Supermarket, Congo Futur, Ovlas Trading, Golfrate Holdings, and Grupo Arosfran. According to the U.S. Treasury, these businesses operate in Gambia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and the British Virgin Islands.“Treasury Targets Hezbollah Financial Network,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 9, 2010, http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg997.aspx.

In March 2017, Hussain’s brother Kassim was arrested at Casablanca airport, Morocco, and extradited to the U.S. He will face trial in Washington, D.C., on terror-related charges including conspiracy, fraud, and money-laundering while evading U.S. sanctions.“United States of America v. Kassim Tajideen,” U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, March 7, 2017, 1, https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/press-release/file/952066/download.