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Home Front
Terror Finance Schemes Busted
2003-03-23
Federal agents cracking down on terrorist financing schemes raided several businesses and made multiple arrests this week, Fox News has learned. During the past 72 hours, Operation Green Quest — the multi-agency terrorist financial crimes task force — arrested nine individuals, executed nine search warrants and 10 seizure warrants, and seized roughly $120,000 in California, Minnesota, New York, Michigan and New Jersey, officials said. Authorities said while none of those who were arrested over the last three days are being charged with being terrorists, the schemes they used and the countries they were involved with have been "exploited by terrorist organizations."
The bankers tend to keep their hands clean. They only get 36 virgins...
The arrests and seizures were the result of separate investigations by Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Secret Service, Naval Intelligence Service and the Coast Guard among others. The operation, which originated in the Treasury Department, is now being coordinated by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Department of Homeland Security. "By dismantling these illegal networks, we are denying avenues for terrorist groups to raise and move funds in this country," said Michael Garcia, a top official with ICE.
I'm all for it, regardless of what the ACLU says...
  • In Los Angeles on Friday morning, agents arrested one individual and executed search warrants on his business and residence in connection with allegations that he had illegally structured financial transactions to evade federal reporting requirements. Authorities intercepted more than 270 money orders totaling nearly $136,000 that the individual was allegedly shipping to Beirut via private parcels.
  • Thursday night in New York City, four individuals were arrested and $71,400 in currency was seized by agents working with the FBI. Multiple bank seizure warrants were issued as well as a search warrant in connection with an investigation into a Pakistani money remittance business.
  • Authorities said an 18-month undercover operation showed a business named Manhattan Foreign Exchange moved $33 million to Pakistan. The money was said to be from illegal narcotics. The owner of Manhattan Foreign Exchange, Shaheen Khalid Butt, was charged with money laundering, currency reporting, conspiracy and immigration fraud charges.
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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