Investigative Report Reveals Mirwais Azizi’s Extensive Money Laundering and Taliban Ties

Kokcha News Agency: The investigative team of “Afghanistan Green Trend (AGT) ” has uncovered one of the most extensive and intricate money laundering networks in the region, directly linked to the financing of terrorist groups, including the Taliban. The network, masterminded by Mirwais Azizi, the owner of Azizi Bank/Exchange, operates under the guise of legitimate businesses in Afghanistan and neighboring countries, using a Cypriot passport to facilitate international financial activities.

Azizi, leveraging his Cypriot passport, has created a legal and international platform for his financial operations. The network cleverly uses seemingly legitimate companies to launder massive amounts of money obtained from illegal sources, including drug trafficking, extortion, and administrative corruption, and then channels these funds into the formal economy.

The most alarming finding of this investigation is the direct financial link between this network and the financial backers of the Taliban. A significant portion of the profits from these criminal activities is used to purchase weapons, equipment, and pay salaries to members of this terrorist group. This not only constitutes a betrayal of the Afghan people but also threatens the national security of regional countries and undermines efforts to combat the Taliban.

This report is not just an exposé of financial corruption; it unveils one of the vital lifelines of international terrorism, hidden behind the facade of peaceful commerce. The investigative team of “Rousd-e Sabz Afghanistan-Rasa” feels a responsibility to share these findings with the vigilant and committed citizens of Afghanistan and calls on the international community and anti-money laundering institutions to take decisive action against these mafia networks and their supporters.

This AGT report exposes Mirwais Azizi’s alleged financial misconduct through Azizi Group, Azizi Bank, and affiliates, implicating them in money laundering, smuggling, and fraud with Taliban ties (e.g., Mullah Fazel Mohammad Mazloom, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mullah Hameedullah Akhundzada, all UN-sanctioned).

The network exploits UN contracts and aviation logistics (Kam Air) to transfer illicit funds to Dubai, evading sanctions. Azizi’s unfulfilled pledges ($10 billion energy, $816 million Dubai hospitals, $500 million Kabul medical complex) and Azizi Bank’s insolvency highlight deception. Collaborations with figures like Haji Mohammad Rafi Azimi suggest personal enrichment and support for extremist agendas. Despite potential AGT bias and lack of bank records, the allegations warrant forensic audits, legal action, and international cooperation to dismantle the network and promote transparency in Afghanistan.

A detailed March 2025 investigation by Afghanistan Green Trend (AGT) exposes Mirwais Azizi, the influential Afghan businessman and founder of Azizi Group and Azizi Bank, for allegedly operating a vast network involved in money laundering, smuggling, and fraudulent schemes linked to Taliban leadership. The report meticulously documents how Azizi and his associated entities—including subsidiaries like Gulzad Group, Kam Air, Ahmadyar Group, and KhairKhawa Group—use legitimate contracts with UN agencies and international organizations to disguise illicit transactions. Azizi’s affiliates funnel cash through Dubai-based companies and aircraft, employing forged documentation and cash smuggling via Kam Air flights, to transfer funds to Taliban-controlled regions.

Key figures such as Sharam Gulzad, Azizi’s son-in-law and CEO of Gulzad Group, and former Afghan officials like Jawed Ludin leverage political and business ties to facilitate these illicit operations. Taliban leaders—including Mullah Fazel Mazloom, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Mullah Hameedullah Akhundzada—are implicated in channeling and managing the flow of funds, which are used to finance extremist activities and maintain influence.

The report also highlights Azizi’s grand investment pledges—such as a $10 billion energy project in Afghanistan, an $816 million hospital complex in Dubai, and a $500 million medical campus in Kabul—that remain unfulfilled as of March 2025, raising questions about their legitimacy given the insolvency of Azizi Bank. Additionally, Azizi’s history of financial misconduct is detailed, including a breach of contract involving $58 million, fraud allegations concerning embezzlement, and insolvency filings revealing the bank’s unstable financial state.

Furthermore, the investigation uncovers a pattern of exploiting UN contracts and the aviation sector—using Kam Air and other airlines—to transfer illicit funds, often disguised as legitimate business payments. Collaborations with entities like Ecolog International and KhairKhawa Group facilitate money laundering through fake contracts and cargo smuggling, while financiers such as Haji Mohammad Rafi Azimi, linked to drug trafficking networks, serve to obscure the flow of dirty money across borders.

The report recommends rigorous international forensic audits and legal actions against the involved companies and individuals, emphasizing the need to dismantle this clandestine financial web threatening regional stability and security.

Investigative report uncovers Mirwais Azizi’s Leverage in Money Laundering, Smuggling, and Taliban Ties