cannabisnews.com: DEA: Drug Money Funds Terror Group 










  DEA: Drug Money Funds Terror Group 

Posted by CN Staff on September 01, 2002 at 21:03:21 PT
By John Solomon, Associated Press Writer  
Source: Associated Press 

Federal authorities have amassed evidence for the first time that an illegal drug operation in the United States was funneling proceeds to Middle East terrorist groups like Hezbollah. Evidence gathered by the Drug Enforcement Administration since a series of raids in January indicates that a methamphetamine drug operation in the Midwest involving men of Middle Eastern descent has been shipping money back to terrorist groups, officials said. 
"There is increasing intelligence information from the investigation that for the first time alleged drug sales in the United States are going in part to support terrorist organizations in the Middle East," DEA administrator Asa Hutchinson said Friday. DEA officials said the men, most of whom were indicted on drug charges after their January arrests, were smuggling large quantities of the chemical pseudoephedrine from Canada into the Midwest. Officials said the smuggling went through two primary Midwest locations, Chicago and Detroit, and involved several men with ties to Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon and other Middle East countries. There is no evidence that any of the money was connected to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials said. Pseudoephedrine is used in some popular cold and allergy medications. It is an essential ingredient in the creation of methamphetamine, a powerful and increasingly popular drug known on the streets as "ice," "poor man's cocaine" or "crystal meth." Users generally inject or smoke meth. The powdery substance is produced by heating about a dozen chemicals. The U.S. drug ring was reselling pseudoephedrine to Mexican-based drug operations in the Western United States that used the pseudoephedrine to produce methamphetamine, authorities said. The Middle Eastern men then were diverting some of the proceeds from the pseudoephedrine sales back to the Middle East to accounts authorities have begun to connect to terrorist groups, DEA officials said. Some of the connections involved the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah, and some of the money has been traced to accounts in Lebanon and Yemen, officials said. DEA officials said U.S. authorities don't know yet how much money was funneled from the drug sales to the terrorist groups, but said the pseudoephedrine sales alone amounted to millions of dollars. "A significant portion of some of the sales are sent to the Middle East to benefit terrorist organizations," Hutchinson said. The drug ring was broken up Jan. 10 as part of a massive DEA investigation called Operation Mountain Express, which has smashed several major methamphetamine operations in the last two years. Arrests were made in Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Phoenix and several California cities. The raids have resulted in criminal charges against 136 people and the seizure of nearly 36 tons of pseudoephedrine, 179 pounds of methamphetamine, $4.5 million in cash, eight real estate properties, and 160 cars used by the drug gangs. Hutchinson has been warning for months that illegal drug money provides a compelling opportunity for terror groups to siphon support from the United States, but the DEA investigation provided the first evidence of a direct flow of money. The evidence of the terror ties emerged after the arrests. U.S. authorities said it is possible some defendants charged with drug violations could face additional charges. The Bush administration has been stepping up efforts to stem the flow of money and items from sympathizers in the United States to foreign terror groups under a law that prohibits providing "material support and resources" to known terrorist organizations. Six men who lived in the United States were indicted last week on charges they conspired to provide such support to al-Qaida or related terrorist causes. Federal agents believe they have uncovered a broad effort by American residents, many of them legal immigrants or visitors, to use credit card thefts, illegal cigarette sales, diverted charitable funds and cash smuggled in airline luggage to enrich anti-American and anti-Israeli terror groups, officials said. "The money mechanisms being used to aid terrorism are limited only by your imagination," said one senior law enforcement official involved in the effort. "There is a significant amount of money moved out of the United States attributed to fraud that goes to terrorism." The official spoke only on condition of anonymity because much of the details remain sealed in a grand jury investigation. The official said the early evidence suggests that groups like Hamas and Hezbollah benefit far more from U.S.-based funds than Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network. Source: Associated Press Author: John Solomon, Associated Press Writer Published: Sunday, September 1, 2002Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Related Articles:Drug Czar Says Drug-Smuggling Funds Terroristshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13930.shtmlDEA Launches Exhibit - Drugs = Terrorism http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13918.shtmlUN Cites Failure to Uproot Opiumhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13800.shtml

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #34 posted by FoM on September 03, 2002 at 14:23:54 PT
Thanks schmeff
There really is something wrong. I've had to delete a few posts because they went way off the page and you would have to scroll right to read. It shouldn't do that even with a long url or it didn't before. The post that FF made that I had to delete isn't here anymore because I removed it.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #33 posted by schmeff on September 03, 2002 at 14:17:34 PT
FOM
I'm pretty sure that freedom fighter "fessed-up" to his enlarged post and he was funnin' you about a bug on your end. Re-read post #28.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #32 posted by FoM on September 03, 2002 at 11:28:56 PT
freedom fighter
I'll report the bug to Matt and see if he can figure it out. I don't read many articles on Meth so maybe there could have been more articles and I missed them. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #31 posted by VitaminT on September 03, 2002 at 11:22:37 PT
Kapt
Reading the paper and watching the news, one would get the impression that very little new was going on in the world except of course that boy-band-punk-loser Lance Bass got kicked out of the Russian space program for non payment. How compelling.Among my many travails in higher education was a 2 year stint in Journalism School. Based on what I know from that - much of what passes for news reporting in most papers today wouldn't pass muster in a good sophomore news writing class.Thanks for breaking this story in the USA! remember folks you heard it here first! LOL!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #30 posted by FoM on September 03, 2002 at 11:06:36 PT
FoxNews
Asa Hutchinson is on FoxNews right now and John Walters compared drugs to Terrorism and the Plague!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #29 posted by kaptinemo on September 03, 2002 at 10:12:59 PT:
And this is supposed to be NEWS?
Middle Eastern governments - including Israeli ones - have been engaged the drug trade for years. Take a look at this and realize that this is only what has been previously available; no one knows what is actually happening now:The Real Israeli Interest in Lebanon
by Israel Shahak
http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0796/9607019.htmfrom the article:Although there are plentiful sources, I will rely on a comprehensive article by Etty Hassid (“Yerushalaim,” Jerusalem Friday Paper, July 22). She offers her conclusions at the very beginning of her article: “Even though it may be hard to believe, the state of Israel is actively engaged in drug trade, especially on its northern Lebanese borders. The participants are on one side the Israeli army, Shabak, Mossad and the Israeli police, and on the other side, Lebanese drug merchants, Israeli Bedouins from the Negev and retired [Israeli] senior officers. The operational principle is: We will close our eyes to all the filth to which you stoop, and even give you some money, if only you provide us with intelligence of interest to us. In my article I am going to prove it or at least to substantiate it as highly probable on the basis of the trials of large-scale drug merchants.and while you're at it:The Revival of Lebanon's Drug Trade
http://www.meib.org/articles/0106_l3.htmfrom the article:After Syrian forces entered Lebanon in 1976, the drug trade increasingly came under the control of Damascus. Rifaat Assad, the brother of Syrian President Hafez Assad, Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass and other military and intelligence officials offered drug producers and smugglers "protection" and the right to travel unhindered in Syrian-occupied areas in return for a sizeable cut of the proceeds. By the late eighties, around one-third of the arable land in the Beqaa Valley was devoted to drug cultivation, generating about $4 billion annually. As a result of these profits, along with revenue derived from extortion, money laundering and other illicit activities in Lebanon, high-ranking Syrian officers grew enormously wealthy, cementing their allegiance to the Assad regime. Why, doesn't that sound familiar? The French and the US in SouthEast Asia, The US in Central and South America, the Japanese in Manchuria in the 1930's and 1940's, The syrians in The Levant, The Israelis, too, The British in China in the 19th and early 20th Centuries... on and on and on...there's a long litany of national forces using the illicit drug trade to fund black operations and undermine local social structures to prevent possible chalenges to their control.But's what's sooooo disingenuous about the whole thing is that the United States government is now in bed with the opium growing Northern alliance of Afghanistan...and has officially but tacitly given up on policing our allies on their prodcution of raw opium. Which is slated for heroin production...aimed at a European market. Any wonder why the Euros are pissed off at us?Yet we point fingers at Hezbollah. When every dollar you put into your gas tank bought a new AK for another 'martyr' to use on hapless tourists or little kids.There's enough dirt to go around for 20 Pulitzers a year for the next 30 years, but so few 'journalists' dare to look at it; they'd prefer nice safe predigested lies from 'official sources'.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #28 posted by freedom fighter on September 03, 2002 at 00:35:38 PT
FoM,,,
Awww, I know now why the post get enlarged... Just press any key on your keyboard and keep pressing that same key will enlarge the posting... Oh gee, FoM, you got a bug in your system. :)))))Anyhow, I just want to point out that article is very misleading and not factual...Those "six" people who got arrested for helpin the terrorists never did any meth dealin like the article allude it to be. One of these "six" people came from my town so I know... Several weeks ago there was an article about a study in Hawaii about the ICE problem and if anybody bother to notice that it has not been mentioned since then. I have to ask "WHY?"ff
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #27 posted by FoM on September 02, 2002 at 13:02:04 PT
canaman
Have a nice time while you're away. We'll see you when you get back. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #26 posted by canaman on September 02, 2002 at 12:53:02 PT
I've got my marchin' orders.....peace everybody!
Don't Let Nobody Turn You AroundBy: Steve Miller Well don't you let nobody turn you 'round 
Turn you 'round, turn you 'round 
Well don't you let nobody turn you 'round 
You got to keep on walkin', keep on talkin' 
Marchin' to the freedom land Well don't you let nobody turn you 'round 
Turn you 'round, turn you 'round 
Well don't you let nobody turn you 'round 
You got to keep on walkin', keep on talkin' 
Marchin' to the freedom land Well don't you let the policeman turn you 'round 
Turn you 'round, turn you 'round 
Well don't let the policeman turn you 'round 
You got to keep on walkin', keep on talkin' 
Marchin' to the freedom land Well don't let the politician turn you 'round 
Slow you down, slow you down 
Well don't let the politician slow you down 
You got to keep on walkin', keep on talkin' 
Marchin' to the freedom land Well don't you let the army general burn the world 
Burn the world, burn the world 
Well don't let the army general burn this world 
You got to keep on walkin', keep on talkin' 
Marchin' to the freedom land Well don't you let nobody turn you 'round 
Turn you 'round, turn you 'round 
Well don't you let nobody turn you 'round 
You got to keep on walkin', keep on talkin' 
Marchin' to the freedom land Keep up the good fight! I may be in touch sporadically for the next few weeks. Fare-thee-well
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #25 posted by BGreen on September 02, 2002 at 12:27:22 PT
No problem, canaman
I know there will be a lot more shows of this type before we experience freedom.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #24 posted by canaman on September 02, 2002 at 12:19:13 PT
thanks FoM and BGreen
I printed it out and will definitely try to catch it sounds too good to miss.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #23 posted by FoM on September 02, 2002 at 12:13:03 PT
canaman & BGreen
Thanks BGreen for the link!canaman it is on Direct TV on Channel 375. I don't know about cable just Direct TV. I love Direct TV and DirecWay!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #22 posted by canaman on September 02, 2002 at 12:10:46 PT
 It's possible BGreen ...
I will traveling, kind of a working vacation. Hope to get lost in the woods for awhile. I don't have a laptop so I'll have to depend on internet cafes, libaries ect...oh well looking forward to being out of touch for a little while.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #21 posted by BGreen on September 02, 2002 at 12:02:44 PT
Pot-TV usually archives shows such as these
I'll betcha it'll show up someplace for you to see it. Viva la internet!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #20 posted by canaman on September 02, 2002 at 11:59:18 PT
thanks BGreen 
Looks like I might miss this one. Won't be near a computer or cable T.V. around those dates. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #19 posted by BGreen on September 02, 2002 at 11:56:05 PT
Link was incomplete
http://www.csupomona.edu/~itac/mediavision/streaming/worldlink/worldlink_index.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #18 posted by BGreen on September 02, 2002 at 11:54:45 PT
Live Streaming
I don't know whether this particular show will be streamed live on the internet, but judging by this description, I'd assume it will be.WorldLink TV is streaming, live, selected programs that feature audience participation through call-ins
Live Streaming
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #17 posted by BGreen on September 02, 2002 at 11:50:56 PT
Thanks, FoM. Here's more information
WorldLinkTV is available on Channel 9410 on Echostar Communications Corporation's DISH® Network direct broadcast satellite system. For those who wish to subscribe to the DISH Network, you can call them at 800-333-3474 for subscription and installation assistance in your area.
 
 WorldLinkTV is available on Channel 375 on DIRECTV® satellite TV service. For those who wish to subscribe to DIRECTV, you can call them at 800-531-5000 for subscription and installation assistance in your area.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #16 posted by phasetheory on September 02, 2002 at 11:49:39 PT
oh yeah
Sorry I repeated you Mike, I didn't read the other articles first. Actually I believe Hitler's scientists invented Meth, the germans gave it to their special troops in some battles. Super soldiers... Increased eye focus, better concentration, endless amounts of energy... but the side effects weren't really a problem... at least to Hitler.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #15 posted by canaman on September 02, 2002 at 11:46:22 PT
FoM
I don't understand, what is this world link T.V.? Is it internet or cable or what? Do you know? thanx
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #14 posted by Phasetheory on September 02, 2002 at 11:40:18 PT
Madness
You all will agree, but it's absolutely amazing the government continues this war. They claim that drug use funds terrorists, but never take a step back and realize that the "drug laws" fund terrorism.I find it even more Ironic with Meth. Because Meth would virtually dissapear if we ended the drug war. Meth only exists as a drug of choice in America becuase it is cheap compared to marijuana, ecstasy, etc. In fact all dangerous drug use would fall dramatically when the US eventually realizes the mistake in the war on drugs.Sooner than later, I pray...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #13 posted by FoM on September 02, 2002 at 11:30:48 PT
TV Special On The Drug War!
Addicted to Failure: The Drug Wars 
Thu, Sep 05, 9:00 PM ET (Thu, Sep 05, 6:00 PM PT)
Fri, Sep 06, 3:00 AM ET (Fri, Sep 06, 12:00 AM PT)
Fri, Sep 06, 9:00 AM ET (Fri, Sep 06, 6:00 AM PT)
Fri, Sep 06, 3:00 PM ET (Fri, Sep 06, 12:00 PM PT)
Sun, Sep 08, 9:30 PM ET (Sun, Sep 08, 6:30 PM PT)
Sep 09, 3:30 AM ET (, Sep 09, 12:30 AM PT)
 Sep 09, 9:30 AM ET (, Sep 09, 6:30 AM PT)
 Sep 09, 3:30 PM ET (, Sep 09, 12:30 PM PT)A national live call-in program that dissects the U.S. governments’s faltering 30-Year, $19 Billion War on Drugs. The program includes the American premiere of “Coca Mama,” a BBC documentary on the effects of U.S. drug policies in four South American countries. Following the film, a panel of experts from the US and Europe take viewer calls to debate the current U.S. strategy of eradication, interdiction and criminalization, and to discuss alternatives. The show is hosted by noted public radio journalist Holly Kernan.
Guests in San Francisco:
SANHO TREE, director of Drug Policy at the Institute for Policy Studies in DC, who was recently in Colombia where he examined the impact of increased aid and the current strategy of the U.S. War on Drugs.
PETER NUNEZ, former US Attorney and official of the US Treasury Department, where he was combating drug smuggling along the US-Mexico border. Mr. Nunez is based in San Diego.
Guest in New York:
DR. PETER COHEN, Senior Drug Policy advisor to the Dutch government. Dr. Cohen discusses European models for dealing with drug use and abuse, including programs in his home city of Amsterdam.
Among the topics covered are:
- How European models for dealing with drug use and abuse compare with those used in our own "war on drugs."
- Current proposals before Congress to increase aid to Colombia; what are the ethics and efficacy of this approach, which includes increased U.S. involvement in Colombia¹s internal conflicts.
- Alternatives that can be offered to impoverished farmers who currently must grow the illicit crop in order to keep their families from starvation.
- How can the US effectively aid the Colombian army, which until now has proven to be ineffective in stemming the drug trade?
- The relationship between oil interests and the Colombia’s internal Guerilla conflict.
http://www.worldlinktv.org/cgi-bin/displayProgram.cgi?code=addicted
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #12 posted by FoM on September 02, 2002 at 10:23:19 PT

John Tyler 
I remember them very well. Everyone took them. My mom, my friends, our neighbor who was a nurse. Everyone loved them. Those where the days my friend we thought they'd never end.Everyone got skinny! LOL!
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #11 posted by John Tyler on September 02, 2002 at 10:11:53 PT

real meth
In the 60's and 70's Smith Kline & French made some great pharmaceutical meth. in black capsules. Everyone called them black beauties.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #10 posted by FoM on September 02, 2002 at 08:55:03 PT

Mike
Thank you Mike. My logic in saying that meth is dangerous is in some hope someone who might be considering trying it might say something like this.Gee I read on C News that they think meth is dangerous and I believe they are honest because they want drug laws changed and maybe someone won't try it. As far as trying to contriol meth it will be impossible. This is a drug that doesn't even need a coca leaf or an opium poppy to make. If they shut down one meth lab more will pop up somewhere else.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #9 posted by Mike on September 02, 2002 at 08:47:41 PT

FoM
I did not mean to misunderstand your position. I agree that meth is a dangerous drug. I personally hate it, but not because it makes the users' teeth fall out, but because the meth "cookers" dump their chemicals in forests, creeks, and fields and it poisons the water and wildlife. 
 
If cocaine were legal, I dare say that meth may have never even been invented. As it stands now, possession of an ounce of meth is automatic life in prison (in MO). Such risk makes the manufacture of meth obscenely lucrative. Of course, I'm preaching to the choir here. Rest assured that no one who deals in illegal substances would want to see it legalized (or re-legalized). As I sarcastically told anti-tobacco zealots: Go ahead and make tobacco illegal. I could make a fortune off of a few dozen plants.I could see tobacco (or coffee) being worth $200 and ounce overnight. People would be forced to smoke it out of pipes to conserve it. If you were caught with a little baggy of tobacco (or coffee), you would face prison, be labeled a "drug user" and lose your kids. It sickens me.I guess my roundabout point here is that we must be careful not to be sucked into the argument of something not being good for you, therefore its justified in being illegal. As Bill Maher said, if we are going to be health nazis, then lets be health nazis. But this whole concept of picking and choosing which substances to make illegal is ludicrous and downright hypocritical. I have a real problem with these politicians (and other clueless on parade) standing on milk crates and pointing fingers, making ridiculous comments like "They just want it legal so they can smoke dope." That's like saying "You don't want to make alcohol illegal because all you want to do is drink."Personally, I believe that illegal laws should be generally ignored to preserve what's left of the constitution.Anyway, this is a hot button of mine, as I'm sure it is for most people here. I'm going to stop now before I wind up typing all day.By the way, FoM, thank you for all of your dedication and effort here. I may not comment very often, but I read this site more than once every day, and your work is very appreciated. =)
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 02, 2002 at 07:28:17 PT

Mike & FF
I agree that prohibition doesn't work. I don't think a person who gets strung out on meth would be helped at all by going to jail. I think it is a dangerous drug but each person should be allowed to do what they want with their own body. I don't believe policing a person because of a substance helps them or society.Freedomfighter I need to remove your post because we have to scroll sideways to read it. I don't know why that happens sometime but please post your comments again.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #7 posted by Mike on September 02, 2002 at 06:46:58 PT

But CannabisMan (and FoM)...
Prohibition doesn't work, regardless the substance. It only serves to compound the problem, if not create it.
[ Post Comment ]




 


Comment #5 posted by Dan B on September 02, 2002 at 00:18:39 PT:

Watch this clip; read the associated articles
The following link will explain a great deal about why drugs and terrorism are connected. Think American government's involvement in both. Think CIA.http://www.guerrillanews.com/war_conspiracy/Dan B
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #4 posted by CannabisMan on September 01, 2002 at 22:00:59 PT:

The DEA needs to decriminalize marijuana worldwide
The DEA shall continue fighting hard drugs, but allow people to smoke pot. If their goal is to help people, then allow them to have their pot.The best thing to do with hard drug users is to get them medical treatment. This is what we do here in California and which I educate others about. You let everyone smoke pot and enjoy life, but you help out the hard drug addicts by giving them treatment.Its just common sense.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #3 posted by FoM on September 01, 2002 at 21:53:52 PT

Meth
I don't know what Meth is like today but back in the 70s it was a hum dinger for lack of a better expression. I think Meth is a very dangerous drug and the problem is people that caught up in using it don't see that they are having a problem until they try to stop and get so tired that they need to do more just to get going again. There was an old expression and I don't know if it is said today but it was:There's no such thing as an old meth head. They quit or they die. It consumes your health and you can't do it long or a person will more then likely have possible serious health problems.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #2 posted by CannabisMan on September 01, 2002 at 21:43:55 PT:

The DEA doesn't really care about pot.
"We don't care about your pot."This coming from an agent of the San Diego field division of the DEA whom I personally have met and still have the phone number for."We're more worried about meth, heroin, those types of things."Well, geeze, you actually make sense Mr. DEAman. As an official representative of a United States government organization, do you really mean this? Are you being sincere? How about you say this publically and end the war on cannabis.Better yet, state this publically to the United Nations and have them officially stop fucking with cannabis.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #1 posted by CannabisMan on September 01, 2002 at 21:34:52 PT:

Why do you post stories about other drugs?
I have heard the argument before about having consideration and letting anyone else use their drug of choice, but f$#, what use really does Methamphetamine have for humans?I mean, I have experimented with it a little, and by golly it was a helluva lot better than Cocaine, but it sucks calcium from your bones from what I understand.If everyone had access to marijuana in the world I somewhat doubt they would be inclined to use other drugs for long periods of time.Smoke pot and stay healthy, happy, and free.
[ Post Comment ]






  Post Comment