Mogadishu, Somalia — United States prosecutors have arrested a man in Somalia accused of playing a leading role in one of the largest pandemic-related fraud cases in US history.
Wararka Soomaaliya
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, was detained in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Thursday. US authorities announced the arrest on Friday, marking one of the clearest indications that efforts to pursue suspects linked to the case now extend beyond US borders.
Officials in neither country disclosed how Eidleh was located. However, the US Department of Justice said the arrest resulted from cooperation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency.
Prosecutors allege that Eidleh was a senior figure in a scheme centred on Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota-based non-profit organisation accused of diverting federal funds intended to provide meals for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Faahfaahinta
In 2022, US authorities charged 47 people in connection with what they said was a $250m fraud involving a federal child nutrition programme. At the time, it was described as the largest pandemic-relief fraud case prosecuted in the United States.
According to prosecutors, Eidleh fled to Somalia as investigators closed in on those involved.
They allege that he recruited participants into the scheme and received bribes and kickbacks disguised as consulting payments and routed through shell companies.
Saamaynta
Court documents further accuse him of establishing meal distribution sites using nominee owners, falsely claiming to serve thousands of children daily, and creating fictitious supplier companies to submit fraudulent invoices for food that was never delivered.
US Attorney for Minnesota Daniel Rosen described Eidleh as a central figure in the operation.
“This is a big fish,” Rosen told CBS News, alleging that Eidleh played a significant role in recruiting businesses and coordinating fraudulent activity.
Wararka.so waxay kuu soo tebineysaa wararka ugu dambeeyey ee Soomaaliya iyo caalamka. Si aad ula socoto wararkii ugu dambeeyey, booqo boggayaga.
