U.S. Customs Halts Asli Maydi Frankincense Citing Abuse, Sexual Assault, and Exploitation Concerns

WASHINGTON, United States (AXADLE) — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has thrown down the gauntlet against Asli Maydi, a purveyor of frankincense headquartered in Hargeisa, North Western State of Somalia. With a spotlight on forced labor concerns, they’ve slapped a withhold release order (WRO) that freezes any imports from the company, as they’re deemed to breach U.S. labor regulations, specifically 19 U.S.C. § 1307.

In its digital domain on Facebook, Asli Maydi portrays itself as a benefactor to local communities, supposedly employing locals and collaborating with farmers to nurture frankincense, promising fair pay for their toil. But hang on a tick — CBP investigations have peeled back layers of lurking malpractices. They unearthed signs of grim wrongdoing, marking the company’s operations with deception, intimidation, abominable working conditions, physical threats, and withheld earnings.

Yet, controversy is no stranger to Asli Maydi. Spin back to 2021, and you’ll find that U.S.-based scientist, Dr. Anjanette DeCarlo, had accused the company’s owner, Barkhad Hassan, of sexual assault during a scientific expedition to North Western State of Somalia. She initially met Hassan in 2018, presented with a research gig through his enterprise. However, as she recounts to Vice News, those opportunities spiraled into coercion, culminating in an assault in a secluded room. Hassan, on his part, vehemently refutes such accusations.

Now, add fuel to this blazing fire with allegations arising from Puntland leaders and business lords. In October of 2021, they jabbed fingers at Hassan, accusing him of pilfering copious amounts of frankincense resin. Traditional mouthpieces barked that these actions constituted theft, with the vanished resins potentially worth millions.

"Trading in goods made with forced labor stands starkly against American ethos. When production gnaws at the health, security, or liberty of individuals, society as a whole bears the cost," declared CBP Senior Official, Troy A. Miller. AnnMarie R. Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner of the CBP Office of Trade, echoed this sentiment, stressing, “Through this action, we assert to those who opt to flout human rights: your goods have no welcome mat in the U.S."

The issuance of this WRO isn’t a mere one-off; it stacks atop 52 vibrant orders the CBP is actively wielding against forced labor goods globally. This emerges as part of an unyielding endeavor to champion human rights within the convoluted corridors of the supply chain.

To serve the narrative straight: CBP’s move is a clarion call, a stand against the exploitation lurking in marketplaces beyond borders, echoing a universal beat against human rights violations. Through scrutinizing malpractices and shedding light upon ethical infringements, CBP strides towards a world where trade intertwines with justice, and human dignity reigns supreme. This tale, swirling with shadows of injustice, serves to illuminate a path toward transparency and fairness in the global trade arena—one decisive action at a time.

By refusing entry to goods tainted with forced labor, the United States reveals its hand—a staunch resolve to protect human dignity against the merciless tides of exploitation. As the curtain rises on safeguarding ethical trade, CBP stands resolute, echoing a message of unyielding vigilance in the tarrying winds of maritime exchange.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

Axadle international–Monitoring