Al-Qaida linked cells ‘involved in weapons smuggling’

Reportedly Bosnian security sources have made it known that large quantities of weapons and explosives have been smuggled into Croatia from Bosnia in recent months. This reports indicate that Bosnian 'Wahabis' in co-operation with al-Qaida cells are responsible. Reports have named Vladimir Popilovski (UID 871208), Kemal Alagic (UID 871209), Semsudin Mehmedovic (UID 763362), Naser Panaslamovic (UID 871210)and Omer Murselovic (UID 871211) as being responsible or purportedly connected to the shipment. However, no arrests have yet been made.

OFAC designates LET leaders and financier

In late May OFAC designated four leading members of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba aka LET (UID 40613), a Pakistan-based terrorist group affiliated to al-Qaida. The designates are named as the reported leader of LET Muhammed Saeed (UID 50117), chief of operations, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi (UID66811) the chief of finance Haji Muhammad Ashraf (UID 875098) and LET financier Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq (UID 875099) who also served as the organisation's leader in Saudi Arabia. “LET's transnational nature makes it crucial for governments worldwide to do all they can to stifle LET's fundraising and operations.” said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). World-Check had two of the recently named designates in its database since 2002. You can read our full press release here and to read more about LET and the four designates check out the verification hyperlinks on Saaed’s profile.

ASG possibly funded by piracy and drug trafficking

The Abu Sayyaf Group (UID 7305) active in the Philippines is reported to sell counterfeit goods and pirated DVDs and CDs to help fund its operations. A recent raid on a market in Manila revealed counterfeit goods packaged alongside illegal narcotics and armaments. In Sulu province a two hectare marijuana plantation was recently discovered fuelling more speculation that the Abu Sayyaf are involved in the illegal drugs trade to fund their terrorist activities. A US report has directly linked the terror group to drug trafficking.

9/11 financier seeks martyrdom

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (UID 41241), is described in the 9/11 Commission Report as the "principal architect" of the 9/11 terror attacks. He is reported to have obtained and approved the funding of the attacks and is also accused of training the terrorists who flew the fateful aircraft. Mohammed purportedly proposed the attacks to Osama bin Laden in 1996. He has now rejected a defense lawyer and told the military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay that he seeks martyrdom and the death penalty.

Spain to extradite alleged arms dealer

This month Spanish authorities have agreed to the extradition of Syrian Monzer-al-Kassar (UID 67759) to face charges in the United States. It is reported that al-Kassar is to go on trial for supplying weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) (UID 1053). Al-Kassar is reported to have been an international arms trafficker for more than three decades. He was detained in Madrid last year and Spain approved his extradition in December 2007 on the condition that he does not receive a sentence of death or life imprisonment.

Netherlands arrest suspect wanted in Spain

Police in the Netherlands have arrested Aqueel Ur Rehman Abbasi (UID 882150) who is the subject of a European arrest warrant issued by Spain. Abbasi is reportedly accused of being a member of a terrorist organisation and of planning terrorist attacks. Reports suggest that he is suspected of planning attacks on the Barcelona metro as well as targets in other European cites.

"In general al-QaIda and affiliated groups benefit from funds raised by sympathizers. This may include funds originating in either licit or illicit activities. One estimate is that over a ten year period al-Qaeda received between $300 million and $500 million, averaging US$30 to US$50 million a year. According to the same source approximately 10% of spending went on operations while 90% was used to maintain the infrastructure of the network, including payments to other groups to support them or to increase al-Qaeda's influence in these regions”

Evolution of Targeted Financial Sanctions – A Perspective
by Tom Dawlings

Significant resources are deployed in the financial services industry in checking terrorist lists and managing filters on payments systems to comply with anti-terrorist financing laws and regulations. It is easy to criticise this international effort as bureaucratic and time-consuming but it is worthwhile considering how much this process has evolved.

Read More...

In May 2008 neither the United Nations nor the UK HM Treasury Office made any updates to their terorrism watch lists.

The European Union added two names on the 2008-05-06 update namely Suhayl Fatilloevich Buranov and Najmiddin Kamolitdinovich Jalolov.

The US Treasury OFAC added four individuals, three Pakistan nationals and one Saudi Arabian national and made amendments to the Islamic Jihad Group (IJG). Read the full OFAC release here .

EVENTS:

16 June, 2008

20-25 July, 2008

WORLD-CHECK NEWS

World-Check has recently launched a new section on its website entitled Industry Voices - which serves as an opinion maker’s platform for sharing expertise on combating financial crime. Read the press release here or visit the Industry Voices index.
We recommend taking time to read "Singapore’s Zero-Tolerance Approach to Counter the Financing of Terrorism" by Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, Head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. This article can be reached by clicking here .