This report describes those allegations and CAL’s and HOACO’s recommendations for how doTERRA, the U.S.-based essential oil company that purchased scandal-tainted frankincense from Somaliland for an extended period of time, should proceed.

Around 2015, a Somali-UK national, Barkhad Hassan, returned from the UK to Somaliland and formed a frankincense sourcing company, Asli Maydi. At that same time, doTERRA, a Utah-based essential oils company, was seeking new markets from which to buy frankincense resin. These two companies formed a partnership that provided Hassan the financial means to grow Asli Maydi quickly. While seeking to push out other suppliers through threats and intimidation, Hassan made harvesters grand promises that a large U.S. company would buy – and pay above-market prices for – as much resin as harvesters could produce.

Years after many of these allegations were reported internally, doTERRA retained the international law firm Sidley Austin LLP (Sidley Austin) to conduct an investigation. It quickly became evident that information shared in the investigation was not secure and had even been accessed by Hassan, a lead perpetrator, leading to some survivors facing violent threats and leaving many others who agreed to interviews fearful for their security.