Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi classified as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S.

Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi at the Commission of Inquiry

This week, the United States Treasury Department announced that Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi and Hizbullah's representative in Iran, Abdallah Safi-Al-Din have been designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13334 which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

Also designated as SDGT are five companies located in Europe, West Africa and the Middle East for being owned or controlled by Mohammad Bazzi and another SDGT.  These companies are the Belgium-based Global Trading Group NV, the Gambian-based petroleum and petroleum-based products company,  Euro African Group Ltd., a Lebanon-based Africa Middle East Investment Holding SAL, Premier Investment Group SAL Offshore and Car Escort Services S.A.L. an import/export company based in Lebanon.

Prior to his new elevated designation as SDGT, Mr. Bazzi was named a financier of terrorism a few years ago.  As a result of being designated Specially Designated Global Terrorists, all properties and interest in properties of Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi and Abdallah Safi-Al-Din that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

According to the U.S. Treasury,  Mr. Bazzi is accused of providing millions of dollars to Hizbullah, he is a close associate of Gambia's former dictator who ordered targeted assassinations, plundered the state treasury for his personal gain. 

In addition, the United States authorities accuse Mr. Bazzi of having business ties to Ayman Joumma Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Organization.  As Hizbullah's chief benefactor, "Iran is", according to the U.S., "complicit in the despicable behavior of Bazzi."

Abdallah Safi-Al-Din who is Hezbollah's representative to Iran, who is cousin to Hezbollah's Secretary General, worked with Bazzi to reestablish a political relationship between Gambia and Iran. 

The burning question of the day that demands urgent response is whether Mohamed Bazzi and Fadi Mazeggi are still operating their business enterprises in The Gambia and if the answer is in the affirmative, why?  The stability of the country is on the line if these characters are free to operate freely and unfettered, the "despicable behavior of Bazzi" notwithstanding. 

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