| Submit your comments on this article |
| Terror Networks |
| Al Qaeda travel agency |
| 2004-08-23 |
| Al Qaeda runs a clandestine travel service, partnered with human smugglers south of the US border, and which helps move its terrorists around the world, according to results of a probe made public here. The national commission that investigated the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States disclosed its findings in a new report released over the weekend as its last act before formally disbanding. "There are uncorroborated law enforcement reports suggesting that associates of Al Qaeda used smugglers in Latin America to travel through the region in 2002, before traveling onward to the United States," the panel said, without offering any specifics. The disclosure comes as several key financial and government institutions in New York, northern New Jersey and Washington, including International Monetary Fund and World Bank headquarters, remain on heightened security alert, following reports that suspected terrorists were casing the buildings early this year. The US Border Patrol has also begun using pilotless "Predator" aircraft to patrol the Arizona stretch of the US border with Mexico, where humans have been smuggled for decades. So far, however, only one human smuggler, known as Salim Boughader-Mucharafille, a Tijuana restaurateur, has been tried, convicted and sentenced. He was found guilty of helping at least 80 Lebanese nationals to cross the US-Mexican border into California since late 1999, and was sentenced to 11 months in jail. He has since been released and deported to Mexico, where he faces criminal charges along with other alleged members of his smuggling ring. Determined to send its agents all around the world, Al Qaeda put a premium on creating false travel documents and identity cards, according to the report. Prior to the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan, it operated a secret office in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, headed by Mohammed Atef, the late chief of Al Qaeda's military operations, which specialized in producing forged passports, visas and other travel documents. To have a steady supply of identity papers, Al Qaeda required those coming to fight in Afghanistan to turn in their passports before going to the front lines. If they were killed, their documents were recycled for use by others, investigators pointed out. After US troops occupied Kandahar, the office moved first to Zormat in Paktia province and then to the Pakistani city of Karachi. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |