Posted on 12/18/2011 7:59:04 PM PST by Nachum
Drug Enforcement Administration agents have raided an Oklahoma car dealership that the government suspects may be one of about 30 such businesses in the U.S. involved in funding the terrorist group Hezbollah.
DEA agents say the car lot of Ace Auto Leasing in Tulsa is part of a huge network that is selling cars and drugs -- and then using the money to support terrorism against the U.S., myfoxphoenix.com reports.
During Friday's raid, agents could be seen carryout out filing cabinets and other items. They also questioned employees and took inventory.
"They're making big time money and it's going right into weapons acquisition, terrorist training, recruiting, corruption. Things needed to carry out terrorist attacks across the world," said Rusty Payne of the DEA. "Some of that money is flowing back to the United States, back to these used car companies, to purchase more used cars to ship them to West Africa to sell those at a profit and then mix those used car proceeds in with the drug dollars."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
ADDING to post no. 14:
http://www.investigativeproject.org/topics/59/hizballah
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http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1862.pdf
http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1861.pdf
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http://www.investigativeproject.org/3348/us-sues-alleged-hizballah-money-launderers
For The Record - The IPT Blog
“U.S. Sues Alleged Hizballah Money Launderers”
by IPT News • Dec 16, 2011 at 3:26 pm
SNIPPET: “The complaint alleges a complex, worldwide connection of Hizballah members and businesses. Hizballah functioned as a key importer of South American cocaine into West Africa, where it was later sent to Europe and the United States for sale. The profits were sent through wire transfers to people in the United States, primarily in Michigan and the East coast, to buy American cars for resale in West Africa. From West Africa, Hizballah activists sent the cash in bulk to Beirut, where it was deposited into Hizballah-friendly accounts.
The suit also targets more than 30 American car buyers involved in the trade. The move could be a huge blow to Hizballah, particularly after Iran cut its funding by 40% last year.
The case piggybacks on a recent indictment against Lebanese drug kingpin Ayman Joumaa, who also functioned as a Hizballah financier and worked with the Los Zetas Mexican cartel. The case alleges that Joumaa helped ship hundreds of tons of cocaine from Colombia to Central America, and used fees charged for laundering to fund Hizballah.”
http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2011/12/us_unravels_international_terr.php
“US unravels international terror financing plot linked to Hezbollah”
By WES BRUER
December 19, 2011 4:37 PM
SNIPPET: “The most recent development in the war on terror financing follows a raid led by the DEA on two US-based auto dealerships. Ace Auto Mart of Tulsa, Okla. was the first target, where agents questioned employees and seized filing cabinets on Friday. A Tampa-based auto dealer, Mansour Brothers Auto Trading Inc., is also the target of the DEA investigation and is one of about 30 other businesses implicated in the finance ring.
The Long War Journal contacted Ace Auto Mart in Tulsa and spoke to an employee regarding the investigation. He reiterated that no one had been arrested and that his boss, Mohamed Soukhi, who is at the center of the investigation, was currently meeting with his attorney. The employee noted that Ace Auto Mart itself was not under investigation, but a “sister company” that leases vehicles was the target.”
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http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1206798.ece
“Feds: Tampa car dealer received more than $3 million in Hezbollah-related money-laundering scheme”
By Danny Valentine, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, December 18, 2011
TAMPA —
SNIPPET: “Mansour Brothers Auto Trading Inc., which specializes in exporting vehicles, is one of 30 used car dealers that were wired at least $329 million over a four-year period, according to the complaint.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2791316/posts
“U.S. Ties Iran to Plot to Kill Saudi Envoy (DC bomb plot)”
Wall Street Journal ^ | 10/11/2011 | EVAN PEREZ
Posted on October 11, 2011 2:15:50 PM PDT by PapaBear3625
www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg1624.aspx
“Treasury Targets Major Money Laundering Network Linked to Drug Trafficker Ayman Joumaa and a Key Hizballah Supporter in South America”
6/27/2012
WASHINGTON
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http://www.investigativeproject.org/3649/treasury-designates-hizballah-tied-drug-network
For the Record - The IPT Blog: “TREASURY DESIGNATES HIZBALLAH-TIED DRUG NETWORK”
(June 27, 2012)
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http://www.investigativeproject.org/topics/59/hizballah
THE INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT ON TERRORISM - Writings by Topic: “Hizballah”
http://www.investigativeproject.org/4061/lebanese-canadian-bank-to-pay-102-million-in
For The Record - The IPT Blog
“Lebanese Canadian Bank to Pay $102 Million in Hizballah Laundering Case”
by Abha Shankar • Jun 27, 2013 at 6:56 pm
SNIPPET: “The Beirut-based Lebanese Canadian Bank (”LCB”) will pay $102 million as part of a settlement reached this week with federal prosecutors. The LCB was accused in a December 2011 complaint of funneling money to the Lebanese terrorist group Hizballah as part of a global money-laundering scheme.
The “settlement shows that banks laundering money for terrorists and narco-traffickers will face consequences for their actions, wherever they may be located. This type of money laundering network fuels the operations of both terrorists and drug traffickers, and will continue to use every resource at our disposal to sever the connection between terrorists, narco-traffickers, and those who fund their lethal agenda,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a Justice Department press release.
Lebanese financial institutions tied to Hizballah wired over $300 million from Lebanon into the United States to buy and ship used cars to West Africa as part of a money laundering scheme, the complaint alleged. Profits from the car sales and narcotics were then funneled back to Lebanon through money laundering channels controlled by Hizballah, including LCB and two Lebanese exchange houses – the Hassan Ayash Exchange Company and Ellissa Holding – as well as their subsidiaries and affiliates. The lawsuit sought $480 million in civil money laundering penalties from the Lebanese financial entities.
The Treasury Department identified LCB as a “primary money laundering concern” in February 2011 and prohibited American financial institutions from doing business with the bank. The bank allegedly laundered as much as $200 million per month in drug proceeds for a Hizballah-tied international drug ring led by Lebanese drug lord Ayman Joumaa. Joumaa was indicted in November 2011 on charges of transporting 100 tons of Columbian cocaine to the Los Zetas Mexican drug cartel.”
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