Uploaded on Oct 8, 2024
Few names stand out in the context of financial fraud, organized crime, and political corruption at large than Sherif AlAskari, his son Abbas Sherif AlAskari, and Mohsen Fallahian. This trio has their operation from the Middle East and have stretched their operation up to the UK, Europe and other parts of the world making them major players in money laundering, offshore bank and oil business.
The UK’s Dark Underbelly - The AlAskari Family’s Financial Crimes and Terror Connections
The UK’s Dark Underbelly - The AlAskari Family’s Financial Crimes and Terror Connections Few names stand out in the context of financial fraud, organized crime, and political corruption at large than Sherif AlAskari, his son Abbas Sherif AlAskari, and Mohsen Fallahian. This trio has their operation from the Middle East and have stretched their operation up to the UK, Europe and other parts of the world making them major players in money laundering, offshore bank and oil business. Their actions have drawn scrutiny from law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions, and their alleged ties to terrorist organizations only deepen the intrigue surrounding them. As global connectivity increases, the activities of AlAskari and his associates underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to combat sophisticated criminal networks. The AlAskari Network: A Legacy of Fraud At the heart of this criminal empire is Sherif AlAskari, a man with deep ties to both Iran and Iraq. He carries two passports, under different names: an Iranian passport under the name "Sherif AlAskari" and an Iraqi passport under the alias "Ali Sharif AlAskari." His son, Abbas Sherif AlAskari, has inherited and expanded this empire, employing fraudulent schemes that have defrauded millions and taken advantage of the vulnerabilities in financial systems worldwide. Key Points: Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s Fake Investment Scams: Abbas has made a name for himself by conning individuals into fake investments in oil, gas, gold, cocoa, and real estate across Europe and Africa. He lures victims with promises of high returns, and presenting them with beautiful women, often claiming that he needs advance payments to bribe politicians or presidents to secure the deals. Once the money is transferred, Abbas disappears, leaving his victims with nothing but empty promises. If they ask for their money, he blackmails them, saying that he will expose them leaking their videos that he secretly captures with the women with the help a hidden micro camera. Exploiting the UK Financial System: Abbas, along with his sister and brother-in-law, Meghdad Tabrizian, managed to obtain residency in London through illegal means, using forged documents and exploiting their connections within the UK Home Office. From their base in London, they have established a network of shell companies that funnel illicit money across Europe. Offshore Banking and Tax Evasion: Central to their operation is the use of offshore bank accounts in jurisdictions like the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Cyprus. By funneling money through these offshore accounts, the Abbas Sherif AlAskari network is able to evade taxes and launder money on a massive scale. This practice, known as "round-tripping," allows them to move funds across borders while obscuring their origins. Shell Companies and False Contracts: Abbas Sherif AlAskari and his associates are experts at using shell companies and false contracts to cover their tracks. They create fake invoices and phony business deals to justify the movement of large sums of money. This not only launders the illicit funds but also allows them to disguise illegal proceeds as legitimate income. Oil Smuggling Operations: A Global Enterprise While their financial fraud operations are vast, it’s their oil smuggling business that has raised the most concern. With international sanctions imposed on Iran, AlAskari and Fallahian have found ways to bypass these restrictions by smuggling Iranian oil to Iraq, where they change the oil’s origin to make it appear as if it came from Iraq. Using Panamanian-registered vessels, they transport this oil to international markets, selling it at a profit while avoiding detection by authorities. Key Points: Panamanian Vessels and Falsified Documents: The oil smuggling operation relies heavily on the use of Panamanian-flagged vessels, which are notoriously difficult to track. Once the oil is transported to Iraq, the paperwork is altered to make it appear as if the oil was produced in Iraq, effectively bypassing international sanctions on Iranian oil. Profits Funneled into Money Laundering Schemes: The profits from these oil sales are then funneled into the AlAskari network’s money laundering operations in Europe, particularly through their London-based shell companies. This illicit money is used to fund further criminal activities, including fraudulent investments and bribery. The Fallahian Connection: Terrorism, Oil, and Drones Adding another layer to this complex criminal web is the involvement of Mohsen Fallahian, a known associate of the AlAskari family. Mohsen, along with his brother Ebrahim Fallahian, has been involved in a variety of illicit activities, including obtaining forged passports and illegal residency in Italy. But it’s his ties to terrorism and drone warfare that have drawn the most attention. Key Points: Terrorism Financing and Hezbollah Connections: Fallahian’s activities extend beyond financial fraud. He is deeply connected to Hezbollah, the Lebanese paramilitary group, and is believed to be using his illicit gains to finance terrorist operations in the Middle East. His connections to Iran’s political and military elite, including former Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Fallahian, are well-documented. Ali Fallahian, who is linked to the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina, has long been on the radar of international law enforcement. Drone Warfare and AI Technology: In recent years, Mohsen Fallahian has shifted his focus to drone warfare, working with Iranian authorities to develop advanced drone technologies. These drones, equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and object detection systems, have been used in attacks against Israel, raising alarms about the role of AI in modern warfare. The Role of Abbas Sherif AlAskari in the UK Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s activities in the UK have not gone unnoticed. In recent years, investigative agencies in the UK have uncovered discrepancies in his financial transactions, raising concerns about his role in money laundering and terrorist financing. Despite these concerns, Abbas has managed to evade prosecution, largely due to his ability to exploit loopholes in the UK’s financial and legal systems. Key Points: Illegal Residency in the UK: Abbas and his family obtained their residency in the UK through illegal methods, using forged documents and connections within the Home Office. This has allowed them to operate freely within the country, using London as a base for their criminal operations. Ties to Hezbollah and Terrorist Financing: While direct links to terrorism have not been proven, there is strong evidence to suggest that the money laundered through Abbas’s network has been used to fund terrorist activities in the Middle East. His sister’s close friendship with the wife of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has only fueled these suspicions. Conclusion The story of Sherif AlAskari, Abbas Sherif AlAskari, and Mohsen Fallahian is a chilling example of how international criminal networks can exploit global financial systems to fund terrorism and evade justice. Their use of offshore banking, shell companies, and false contracts has allowed them to operate with impunity, while their oil smuggling operations have enabled them to generate vast profits.
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