Ali Sharif AlAskari was aboard a ship moored at the shores of Bandar Abbas – Iran. The sea of Persian Gulf was vast in front of him and the sea has always been full of promise. As far as Ali Sharif AlAskari was concerned, this was not a viewpoint; it was the point of entry to a complex web of processes that were spread across continents. From oil smuggling to money laundering his connections went right to the core of the world’s financial systems, painting a picture of deceit and daring.
What was hidden behind this veil was a web of organizations that were almost impossible to distinguish from legal companies and real criminal organizations. This is the story of how one man built an empire from the Middle East to Europe and cheated the system at every turn.
The Smuggling Operation: Turning Oil into Gold
It started in Bandar Abbas where Ali Sharif AlAskari oversaw a chain of huge fuel depots. These tanks stored millions of barrels of Iran’s crude oil banned by sanctions from the international community. For most, this oil would be unsellable; it is locked in by layers of geopolitical barriers. But for Ali Sharif AlAskari, it was the source of life for his empire, or at least that was what it seemed.
Step 1: Disguise the Origin
This crude oil was then shipped in Panamanian registered ships, to help conceal its origin. These ships went to Iraq, and false documents labeled the oil as Iraqi. By this relatively straightforward and ingenious move, Ali Sharif was able to avoid the effects of the sanctions regime and turn oil into a legal product.
Step 2: Selling the Oil
After the oil was concealing, it was taken to the international market and sold for millions of dollars. Customers, most of whom were probably unaware or willingly involved, wire-transferred money to accounts managed by Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK network. But the money trail did not stop there.
The UK Connection: Laundering the Profits
Once the profits from the oil sales were secured, the challenge was laundering them to appear legitimate. This is where the United Kingdom came into play. Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK-based daughter, a London resident, became the linchpin of the operation.
Married to Meghdad Tabrizian, a man with deep ties to the Iranian regime, she managed a network of shell companies designed to obscure the origins of the money. Two prominent firms, London Surface Design Limited and London Heritage Stone Limited, were central to this operation.
Fake Contracts: The companies generated fraudulent contracts for construction and design projects, creating a plausible reason for large sums of money to move through their accounts.
Fabricated Receipts: Fake receipts were issued to simulate profits, ensuring that the financial records appeared legitimate.
Layered Transactions: To further obscure the trail, the funds were moved through multiple bank accounts and jurisdictions, making detection nearly impossible.
By the time the money completed its journey, it was "clean." But the operation didn’t stop there. The funds were funneled to Hassan Nasrallah’s wife, fueling Hezbollah’s activities in the Middle East.
A Family Affair: Connections That Run Deep
Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK operation was not a solo endeavor. It was a family affair, with each member playing a critical role.
The Sisters’ Pact
Ali Sharif AlAskari’s wife and the wife of Ali Fallahian, Iran’s former Minister of Intelligence, are sisters. This familial bond solidified a partnership between Ali Sharif AlAskari and Ali Fallahian, whose own legacy included the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina. Together, they controlled the oil smuggling operation from Bandar Abbas.
The Daughter in London
Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK-based daughter, with her husband Meghdad Tabrizian, served as the operational hub for money laundering. Their sons, Mohammad Meghdad Tabrizian and Amir Meghdad Tabrizian, played active roles, ensuring the smooth flow of funds through their network.
The Son with Many Faces
Abbas Sharif AlAskari, another key figure, held three passports—Dominican, Iranian, and Iraqi. His Dominican passport allowed him to travel freely across Europe, conning investors into fake oil and gas deals. Abbas’s schemes were a blend of charm and coercion, often involving fake contracts, advance payments, and threats of legal action.
Abza Group Ltd: Using his Dominican credentials, Abbas set up a new UK-based company to continue laundering money.
Bank Accounts in the UK: Abbas utilized accounts with Monzo and Lloyds to funnel funds, exploiting the UK’s financial system with impunity.
A Canadian Connection
Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK network’s reach extends beyond the UK. His other daughter, Soraya, operated from Canada, laundering money through local connections. Her activities caught the attention of Canadian authorities, but the operation continued to thrive, showcasing its resilience and adaptability.
How the Scheme Unfolds:
Morning: A tanker loaded with "Iraqi" oil docks in a European port. The documentation is flawless, leaving no trace of its true origin.
Afternoon: The profits from the sale are wired to accounts linked to shell companies in the UK.
Evening: Ali Sharif’s daughter signs off on a set of fake contracts, justifying the transfer of funds to her husband’s businesses.
Night: Abbas meets with a potential investor, pitching a fake opportunity in Africa’s gold mining industry. By the end of the meeting, he’s secured an advance payment.
The Broader Implications
Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK operations are not just a family affair; they are a case study in how criminal networks exploit global systems.
Loopholes in Sanctions: By disguising oil’s origin, the network undermines international efforts to curb Iran’s influence.
Weak Financial Oversight: The ease with which funds are laundered highlights vulnerabilities in financial systems, particularly in jurisdictions like the UK.
Global Instability: The funds ultimately fuel organizations like Hezbollah, contributing to regional instability and global insecurity.
The Final Puzzle Piece
As Hassan stared at the details in his email, he realized the enormity of what he had uncovered. The story of Ali Sharif AlAskari was more than just an exposé of one man’s crimes. It was a mirror reflecting the vulnerabilities of international systems.
For the world to move forward, stories like of Ali Sharif AlAskari’s must be brought to light. The shadows he operates in must be illuminated, not just for justice, but to safeguard the integrity of global governance.
Read More Articles-
Mohsen Fallahian: The Mastermind and His Network of Fraudsis at Israel’s Crosshairs
Con Men of Many Faces: The Untold Story of Abbas Sherif AlAskari and Mohsen Fallahian
From Oil Schemes to Blackmail: The International Criminal Network of Abbas Sherif AlAskari
Dark Connections: The Criminal Network of Abbas Sherif Alaskari and Associates
Mohammad Tabrizian: The Man Behind the Veil of Illicit Networks
Write a comment ...