The Stolen Cars of Al Qaeda

What if Al Qaeda has found a new method to launder money around the world ?   In his July5, 2005 testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, terrorism expert Steven Emerson made a chilling prophecy. He said that he would not be surprised someday to find an international network of stolen car rings raising money for terrorism, and shipping cars to the Middle East to be made into car bombs.

Stolen cars funding al-Qaeda in Iraq. The stolen vehicles ,  used as car bombs,  are coming from every direction, this time from Lebanon via Syria (see story below from Ya Libnan.)

Shut off the supply of stolen cars financing terrorism in Iraq and you shut off the blood money needed to run terrorist operations, unfortunately nobody gets it!

"Some 90 cars stolen in Lebanon were smuggled into Iraq by way of Syria in the first two months of 2007, according to sources in Lebanon.  Although it is possible that some of these cars end up being used in attacks and suicide bombings in Iraq, the vehicles more likely are destined for the black market. " STRATFOR WORLD TERRORISM REPORT 3/26/2007

Stolen cars pour into Iraq from the Syrian border, the Saudi Arabian border, through Kuwait and into Southern Iraq, and most recently the Ship carrying the load of smuggled cars in the Persian Gulf.  Miraculously, the Iranian Navy showed up just after 15 British Sailors and Marines had boarded the container ship which had the smuggled cars.

The 15 "Brit" Sailors and Marines have become the subject of an international incident over boarding a Merchant ship loaded with smuggled cars heading for Iraq.  " The British are adamant that the sailors were in Iraqi waters checking for cars, not weapons, being smuggled".  Why did the Iranian Navy (Hezbollah links to funding from Iran) make such a big deal of this particular boarding by the "Btits", as it appears to happen al the time in the Shatt Al-Arab waterway North of the Persian Gulf.  Did the Captain of the Merchant ship contact the Iranian Navy, what happened to the ship with all the cars ?  ASIA TIMES 3/29/2007

Syria, Hezbollah control smuggling of cars from Lebanon to Iraq Ya Libnan.

Beirut- Some 90 cars stolen in Lebanon were smuggled into Iraq by way of Syria in the first two months of 2007, according to sources in Lebanon.

Although cars smuggled into Iraq mostly end up for sale on the black market -- and are not specifically destined for use in suicide bombings -- Syria's failure to enforce effective border controls on stolen cars raises serious questions as to its ability, or willingness, to prevent other types of cross-border smuggling and infiltrations, including by suicide bombers. As such, the situation helps to undermine efforts to bring security and stability to Iraq.

Comments

[geo11]

Nancy Pelosi is bringing Syria to task about the stolen vehicles killing our soldiers and innocent Iraqis. NOT. The Democrat leadership raises the term traitors to another level. Their level of betrayal towards our fighting men and women is beyond words. May they pay the price politically for their treason.

[akak]

"The Fraudster Award for Worst Picture goes to “Around the World in 80 Cars“, an epic scam that stretched from Canada to the Middle East. These audacious fraud artists were not only car thieves, they were identity thieves as well. They created a string of false identities and fake credit reports, and used them to lease over 80 high end cars. The cars were then packed up and shipped to buyers in countries throughout the Middle East. After the cars had sailed away, the gang tried to report some of them stolen in an attempt to collect on the insurance as well. The trail of fake paperwork led to seven suspects. As the credits rolled, five men were facing charges and arrest warrants had been issued for the other two. "
http://www.ibc.ca/en/Insurance_Crime/Scam-ademy/

[1389]

Glad you're covering this!

Linked to this article from here:

Is your car going to the Middle East - without you?