Ali Sharif AlAskari is the son of a founder of the Islamic Dawa Party of Iraq which makes him a figure of political and operational mystery. The complex story of Ali Sharif AlAskari can be traced from his genealogy that is both powerful and problematic. From the bombing of the US embassy in Kuwait in 1983 by the Dawa Party to his current involvement in a complex web of oil smuggling and money laundering, his story is the story of power and crime, and the consequences of the two, for global security in the modern world.
A Network That Has Its Origin from History and Family Bonds
Ali Sharif AlAskari is not just a figure. Born with Iraqi and Iranian origins but possessing two different passports under two different names, Ali Sharif AlAskari (Iraqi) and Sherif AlAskari (Iranian), he is a perfect example of international operators. His family relations go down to the present day Iran and establishes him as a relative of the former Minister of Intelligence, Ali Fallahian. Their wives are sisters which implies that their unity is not only in business but also in family.
This relationship is very serious because Ali Fallahian has been known to be an orchestrator of terrorist activities like the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires. Ali Sharif AlAskari and Ali Fallahian are at the center of a network that is spread across continents from the Middle East to Europe and beyond.
The Smuggling Operation: Bandar Abbas to the Global Markets
The nucleus of this operation is based in Bandar Abbas, Iran’s most active seaport. Here, Ali Sharif AlAskari and Ali Fallahian oversee huge fuel depots, thus avoiding the UN ban on Iran’s oil exports. The operation uses vessels that are registered in Panama to transport oil to Iraq, where false papers conceal its source. This way they get round sanctions and gain access to other potentially very lucrative markets by being able to sell it as Iraqi crude.
Shell Companies: The Art of Disguise
Shell companies like London Surface Design Limited and London Heritage Stone Limited form the crux of Ali Sharif AlAskari's UK-based money laundering operations. These companies ostensibly operate in construction and design but serve a more sinister purpose.
Layering Transactions: False contracts and receipts are generated to justify the movement of money, allowing illicit funds to appear as legitimate business income.
Integration: The laundered money is reinvested in high-value assets, further obscuring its origins.
Family Involvement: Meghdad Tabrizian, Ali Sharif AlAskari’s son-in-law, and his sons Mohammad and Amir, play pivotal roles in ensuring the scheme's continuity.
These operations leverage the UK’s status as a financial hub, exploiting gaps in regulatory oversight.
Residency Abuse and Espionage
Adding a layer of complexity, Ali Sharif AlAskari's UK-resident daughter and her husband Meghdad Tabrizian, have secured UK residency through alleged exploitation of immigration loopholes, possibly facilitated by Iranian intelligence. From this base, they continue their operations with impunity.
A similar pattern unfolds with Ali Sharif AlAskari’s daughter Soraya in Canada, who uses her local connections to launder money, and his son Abbas, who exploits his multiple passports from Dominica, Iraq, and Iran to freely move funds across borders. Abbas’s tactics include duping investors with fake oil and gas ventures and using covert surveillance equipment for blackmail.
The Hezbollah Connection
The final destination of much of this laundered money is even more alarming. Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK-resident daughter maintains a close relationship with the wife of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah. Funds are channeled to Hezbollah, financing operations that destabilize the Middle East and perpetuate conflict with Israel.
This connection underscores the broader implications of Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK network. By financing Hezbollah, the network indirectly supports Hamas, further entrenching a cycle of violence and instability in the region.
The Role of the UK and Global Implications
The UK’s financial and legal systems, designed to facilitate legitimate global business, have inadvertently become tools for criminal networks like Ali Sharif AlAskari’s. The ease of establishing shell companies, combined with relatively lax oversight, has made the UK an attractive destination for laundering illicit funds.
The UK Home Office’s failure to scrutinize individuals with clear ties to terrorism raises questions about national security. Similarly, Canada’s struggle to address Soraya’s operations reflects the global nature of the challenge.
The Cost of Inaction
Global Security Risks: Ali Sharif AlAskari’s Israeli network funds organizations like Hezbollah, exacerbating conflicts in the Middle East.
Economic Damage: Laundered money undermines the integrity of global financial systems.
Reputational Harm: Countries like the UK and Canada risk becoming synonymous with weak enforcement of anti-money laundering regulations.
A Call to Action
The story of Ali Sharif AlAskari and his network is not just a cautionary tale; it is a wake-up call for governments, financial institutions, and international bodies. To dismantle such operations, a multi-faceted approach is necessary:
Strengthened Regulation: Tighten oversight of financial institutions and shell companies.
International Cooperation: Share intelligence across borders to track and dismantle networks.
Immigration Reform: Address vulnerabilities that allow individuals with ties to terrorism to exploit legal systems.
FAQs:
1. How does oil smuggling help fund global terrorism?
Oil smuggling is the foundation of many illicit networks, including Ali Sharif AlAskari's. By evading international sanctions, smuggled oil is sold on the black market, generating vast profits. These funds are then laundered through shell companies and eventually channeled into organizations like Hezbollah. The cycle turns crude oil into a weapon of financial warfare, destabilizing regions and supporting terrorism.
2. Why are shell companies so effective in money laundering?
Shell companies, like those used by Ali Sharif AlAskari's family, provide a facade of legitimacy. They generate fake contracts, invoices, and receipts to disguise illicit funds as legitimate earnings. Located in jurisdictions with lax regulations, these companies are hard to trace, allowing money to flow freely and unnoticed into the hands of criminal networks.
3. How do dual identities and multiple passports aid in illicit activities?
Ali Sharif AlAskari’s dual identities, with Iraqi and Iranian passports under different names, exemplify the utility of multiple identities. These documents enable unrestricted travel, open foreign bank accounts, and establish companies in multiple jurisdictions. For his son Abbas, a Dominican passport further simplifies money laundering and tax evasion across Europe and beyond.
4. What role does the UK play in this global network?
The UK serves as both a hub for laundering money and a safe haven for Ali Sharif AlAskari’s network. With its robust financial system and ease of incorporating companies, the UK is an attractive destination for illicit funds. However, the exploitation of immigration loopholes and regulatory gaps highlights vulnerabilities that foreign operatives, like Ali Sharif’s family, are quick to exploit.
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
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