Global Money-Laundering Ring Busted by Australian Police Funding Hizbullah
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Australian police revealed Thursday they had cracked a major global money-laundering ring with operatives in more than 20 countries and funds syphoned off to groups reported to include Hizbullah.
The Australian Crime Commission said more than Aus$580 million (US$512 million) of drugs and assets had been seized, including Aus$26 million in cash, in a year-long sting codenamed Eligo targeting the offshore laundering of funds generated by outlaw motorcycle gangs, people-smugglers and others.
According to the ACC, the operation had disrupted 18 serious and organised crime groups and singled out 128 individuals of interest in more than 20 countries, tapping information from agencies including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
Eligo saw 105 people arrested on 190 separate charges and resulted in the closure of three major clandestine methamphetamine labs and Australia's largest-ever urban hydroponic cannabis hothouse in Sydney last November.
"The task force focused on high-threat money laundering activities and, as a result, revealed a range of different crime types which has led to these extraordinary outcomes," said Australia's Justice Minister Michael Keenan.
"Seizing more than $550 million worth of drugs and cash is a significant blow to the criminal economy," he added.
Legitimate international cash wiring services were a major focus of the operation, with the government's anti-laundering agency AUSTRAC saying they had been identified as at "high risk of being exploited by serious and organised crime groups".
According to a Fairfax media expose on the operation, criminals targeted foreign nationals and students in Australia awaiting remittances from overseas, hijacking the transaction by depositing dirty money to the payee and then taking the cash wired from offshore.
Fairfax said at least one of the exchange houses used in the Middle East and Asia delivered a cut from every dollar it laundered to Hizbullah, which is banned as a terrorist organisation in Australia.
"It was just never-ending," said ACC acting chief Col Blanch. "We were regularly finding bags of $500,000 and $400,000."
Organised crime is estimated to cost Australia Aus$10-15 billion per year by the ACC, with drugs, money-laundering, fraud, firearms and high-tech cyber offences the major issues.
Profits from transnational organised crime were estimated at US$870 billion in 2009 -- the latest available data -- according to the ACC's 2013 report into the sector. That represented about 1.5 percent of global GDP at the time.
23 January 2014, 08:14
1512
thank you hizbushaitan for putting our banking system and economy at risk once more!
to those who do not understand my comment: this will definitely affect at least one bank that is involved in this!
to which extent these terrorists will go?
23 January 2014, 12:34
1114
pff.. overblow statements.
"Fairfax said at least one of the exchange houses used in the Middle East and Asia delivered a cut from every dollar it laundered to Hizbullah"
a guy was sending monney to hezbollah, like lots of supporters do around the world, and they're trying to cut its funding so they make a fuss about it.
23 January 2014, 15:40
123
The iranians and Hizppos are they behaving there?but how come they are considered terrorists just like Qaeda?
23 January 2014, 08:46
1410
This is terrible, the Zionist/US/Saudi/coalition will stop at nothing in their quest to damage the name of the Glorious militia. Don't worry momo I am sure the_snore will get to the bottom of this.
23 January 2014, 23:00
00
@naharnet
judging from the thumbs down I received and knowing fully well the political povs of naharnet editors which I respect and agree with do not reflect the ideologies of those voting me down I.e. pro hezb and pro 8th of march commentators nevertheless I am confused to find out lately that your site is being systematically invaded and criticized by those same previously mentioned commentators outnumbering your site supporters??? strange situation indeed!!!
23 January 2014, 23:00
00
@naharnet
judging from the thumbs down I received and knowing fully well the political povs of naharnet editors which I respect and agree with do not reflect the ideologies of those voting me down I.e. pro hezb and pro 8th of march commentators nevertheless I am confused to find out lately that your site is being systematically invaded and criticized by those same previously mentioned commentators outnumbering your site supporters??? strange situation indeed!!!
23 January 2014, 12:16
146
hey genius, read properly before you go on with your teen rant. It is agency france press.
23 January 2014, 13:17
147
Fine, if you disagree, then its your right to disprove the argument with a civil reply..but if you want to give a factual account of how you view things are or should be, then you are the worst kind of sectarian poster. Learn to respect other peoples view & debate them in a civil manner, without attacking their view as if yours is the only right & meaningful view that exists.
23 January 2014, 13:26
144
defo, controlled by Bandar, hariri and Rifi, thanks for the info mystic...
23 January 2014, 13:27
146
The Australian Crime Commission is a saudi puppet manipulated by bandar. Achraf Nass dont do drug dealing/captagon in lebanon or abroad...
23 January 2014, 13:39
155
m8 guys tried to discredit the article, but the truth will always shine :)
terrorists, drug dealers/manufacturers, bombers, killers,... they are, and this is what they remain.
if there is a war on terrorism, then it should eradicate hizbushaitan first and foremost, but wait! iran promised to disband them :)
23 January 2014, 13:58
125
It is so unlike HA to be involved in drugs, assassinations, bombings, and other illicit activities. Hence, I seriously doubt the authenticity of this article. I am sure after cross examination by the panel of expert judges here, an overwhelming decision has been reached the article is mere and utter propaganda.
23 January 2014, 13:59
136
I suggest you guys form a grievances board and take it up with the appropriate authorities.
23 January 2014, 14:17
42
Money talks, the rest walks. Cash is becoming a serious problem for Hezbollah nowadays, at a time when it needs it most, but now 4 years down the line, with most major countries keeping a close tab on HA operations worldwide, with Iran having knelt down under tough economic sanctions, with Syria in tantrums, with Hezbollah being now constantly under growing pressure, I honestly don't know how much it could last. yet, the return door back to its Lebanese has never been shut close, why does Hezbollah keeps refusing to use it?! Must it wait when it has lost all goodwill from its Lebanese siblings? I personally urge Hezbollah's top cadres to think well now, neither guns, nor rockets nor muscles can feed a people, but reason. I repeat, NO Lebanese sibling has yet closed the door, use it!!
23 January 2014, 14:28
135
FT, you keep coming back because there are no Hezbo outlets you can post on since they are too backwards and stupid to run a forum or comment section properly.
23 January 2014, 15:22
134
wonder how many kids overdosed on heroin produced by khomeyneists? probably hundreds.
HA: killing children in beirut, qusayr, australia, and the whole wide world!
23 January 2014, 20:50
11
ignoramus, the muslim brotherhood has like 1 MP in our parliament. what are you even talking about man go learn about what you are talking about then come here and try to itshatar
23 January 2014, 17:26
41
The_bore, if you don't like Naharnet, why don't you take a hike?
23 January 2014, 17:30
41
Quote from Fit-thrower:
"we will always bring the opinion of the demonized side for the casual reader"
You are the very definition of a propagandist. You have no life, and are paid less than minimum wage to post your lies here. Stop pretending you are some important person with a real job and a family.
23 January 2014, 17:32
50
The_bore, why don't you post the "Christian" man's name, unless you are lying again?
23 January 2014, 18:06
00
What a bunch of liars especially anonyshithead story. We all know here who it was and I can assure you it was a sunni!!! Obviosuly you have no idea about australia so i suggest you get your facts right! 90% if not more out here are sunnies and from tripoli! I live far from lakemba and bankstown just to be away from them. They brought our reputation into the ground and they r running most bikie gangs around sydney let alone the whole of australia!! I posted earlier just when naharnet posted the article but they removed my post. You know why? Because i posted the direct link from australian news that nowhere mentions HA! But guess what? Surely they dont want people to see their lies and propaganda and they even removed this article! I only found it cuz i bookmarked it. Well done naharnet, propaganda at its best...
23 January 2014, 22:57
11
The_bore is truly tied up with important work, that's why he posted 14 comments on this article already.
23 January 2014, 23:01
11
The_bore is so busy, he also posted 16 times on this other article today already:
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/115341-stl-s-2nd-day-of-testimonies-focus-on-truck-seen-in-cctv-footage-near-hariri-blast-site
24 January 2014, 00:10
11
The_bore's post was recorded 4 hours ago, and he says:
"I don't use wikipedia, but I am truly tied up this evening with work."
Interesting because it is currently 9:00 AM in Sydney Australia, and 4 hours ago it was 5:00 AM in Sydney??
Who would say "I'm tied up this evening" at 5:00 AM??? I'm so confused.
The_bore claims he lives in Australia, where he has an "important job", and runs a well known charity organization.
Can't wait for his explanation
24 January 2014, 01:49
01
Yes, it's currently 10:43 AM in Sydney Australia, and 6 hours ago, at 4:43 AM Sydney time, you said:
"I am truly tied up this evening with work".
Do you call 4:43 AM the evening? Is that some Australian slang?
You also posted a couple comments 8 hours ago, at 2:43 AM Sydney time.
You are a fake, bore. You have never showed proof of anything, and your lies are very transparent.
24 January 2014, 05:54
01
You gave me proof? Proof of what?
This article is about Australia busting a criminal money laundering ring, and some of the profits were being sent to Hezbollah, and over $580M in drugs and assets were seized.
You claim that you live in Australia, which is questionable based on my comments above, and then you say:
"this article is known very well to me & who was busted..the biggest bust by far belonged to a Christian with drugs est over $600 million"
I simply asked you who was the Christian that you claim was busted. I didn't ask for proof, I just asked for a name. You said this article is very well known to you, and the biggest bust was a Christian....
How do you know he was a Christian if you don't know his name?
I didn't ask for proof, and you did not provide any proof. I'm still asking....
What is the name of this Christian who you claim was busted???????
