Mohsen Fallahian: The Oil Smuggler with Network across Israel and the Middle East
3 Feb, 2025
Mohsen Fallahian is a name known to every criminal, or specifically, every criminal in the Middle East, a man of deceit and power, a man who is feared. A murderer by conviction, the man has a record of a criminal activity that ranges from Middle East to European and other continents. But his infamy does not stop at the acts of violence; it goes to a web of fraud that supports a large system of crime. Together with his long-time friend and business partner Abbas Sherif AlAskari, Mohsen Fallahian has emerged as a leader in the international organized crime of money laundering and smuggling of oil through the use of shell corporations and forged documents in order to escape prosecution and to finance terrorism.
Shell Companies: The Invisible Titans of Financial Fraud
Shell companies are the perfect instrument of financial fraud. Some of them are on paper only and do not carry out legal economic activities. Rather they are used for money laundering, tax evasion and sanctions busting. These entities are usually incorporated in countries with weak financial laws, for instance, Panama, the British Virgin Island and the Cayman Islands. For instance:
Purpose: Shell companies obscure the origins of illicit funds. They act as intermediaries, making it difficult for authorities to trace the money’s trail.
Mechanism: A shell company may purchase assets, funnel money through offshore accounts, or issue fake invoices for nonexistent services.
Real-World Example: In Mohsen Fallahian's UK network, companies like London Surface Design Limited, Abza Group Limited, and London Heritage Stone Limited, masquerade as construction firms. However, these entities primarily funnel revenue from oil smuggling and other illegal activities into legal financial systems.
Oil Smuggling: Rewriting the Labels
One of the most lucrative arms of this operation is oil smuggling. Iran, under heavy international sanctions, relies on creative ways to market its oil. This is where Mohsen Fallahian’s Israel network comes in, employing sophisticated schemes to disguise the origin of Iranian oil and inject it into the global market.
The Process:
Storage: The oil is first stored in facilities in Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Transportation: Panamanian-registered vessels transport the oil to Iraq, bypassing international scrutiny.
Paper Trail Manipulation: The oil's origin is falsified, with documents claiming it to be of Iraqi origin.
Sales: The "laundered oil" is sold internationally, reaping huge profits.
This scheme demonstrates the interplay between logistics and legal loopholes, creating a robust supply chain for illegal oil exports.
Money Laundering: A Global Network
At the heart of Mohsen Fallahian and Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s UK network lies an intricate money-laundering operation that spans continents. The funds generated from oil smuggling and other illicit activities are funneled through shell companies and accounts in multiple jurisdictions. Abbas Sherif AlAskari's operations illustrate the mechanics of this network:
1. Banking and Financial Tools
Bank Accounts: Abbas utilizes accounts in Monzo Bank and Lloyds Bank in the UK. These accounts process laundered funds under the guise of legitimate business transactions.
Multiple Identities: Abbas holds passports from Dominica, Iran, and Iraq, allowing him to traverse borders and open bank accounts under different aliases.
2. Investments and Front Companies
Abza Group Ltd., a company registered in the UK under Abbas's Dominican passport, is ostensibly engaged in legitimate business. However, it acts as a vehicle for laundering proceeds from fake investment schemes and illegal oil sales. Abbas lures victims by proposing ventures in sectors like oil, gold, and real estate, then absconds with their investments. He blackmails them with secret recordings of their intimate moments with women if they demand their money back.
Technology and Terror: The Canadian Connection
The sophistication of this network extends beyond finances. Abbas’s sister in Canada, Soraya, is allegedly involved in laundering money to fund artificial intelligence (AI) research with direct military applications. Soraya’s husband, a Canadian professor specializing in AI, reportedly develops object detection systems for Iranian drones used in attacks on Israel. This blending of academic research and illicit financing underscores the diverse tactics employed by Mohsen Fallahian’s Israel syndicate.
Fraudulent Residency Schemes: The European Gambit
Residency fraud has become another hallmark of Mohsen Fallahian’s UK network. With the assistance of corrupt officials, both Mohsen Fallahian and Abbas Sherif AlAskari have secured residency permits in the UK and Italy. For instance:
The Home Office Connection: Abbas leveraged his sister and brother-in-law’s connections within the UK’s Home Office to obtain residency illegally.
The Italian Cover: Mohsen, meanwhile, used forged documents to acquire Italian residency, providing him a safe haven in Europe.
The Players behind the Curtain
1. Setareh Heshmat
Setareh, Abbas’s girlfriend, has been instrumental in laundering money under the guise of pursuing an MBA at University Canada West in Vancouver. Her tuition fees, living expenses, and more are funded through illicit activities.
2. Ali Sharif AlAskari
Ali Sharif AlAskari, Abbas’s father, is a veteran of the Al-Dawa Party, an Iranian proxy linked to the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Kuwait. Ali's dual passports and historical ties to terrorism place him at the center of this web.
3. Meghdad Tabrizian
Meghdad Tabrizian, Abbas’s brother-in-law, oversees operations in the UK, using his companies as fronts for laundering money and funding Iranian-backed activities. His connection to Ali Fallahian, a former Iranian intelligence minister, further cements the group's deep ties to the Iranian regime.
Case Study: The Panamanian Vessel
One Panamanian-registered ship highlights the extent of deception. The vessel, owned indirectly by Mohsen Fallahian’s Israel network, regularly travels between Bandar Abbas and Iraq. By altering cargo manifests and forging certificates of origin, the vessel enables millions of dollars in illegal oil sales while avoiding detection.
Red Flags and Triggers
Authorities have identified several patterns common to Mohsen Fallahian’s schemes:
Frequent Movement of Funds: Transfers under $10,000 to avoid detection by financial regulators.
Layering: Funds moved through multiple shell companies in different countries.
Lifestyle Incongruence: Lavish spending by individuals with no verifiable income.
The Stakes for Israel
The ultimate aim of this operation isn’t just financial gain but geopolitical disruption. Funds from this network are suspected of financing Iranian-backed militias and drone attacks on Israel. The intertwining of criminal profits and terrorism poses a direct threat to Israel’s national security, making the dismantling of this network an urgent priority.
The web woven by Mohsen Fallahian’s Israel associates exemplifies the complexity and audacity of modern criminal enterprises. From shell companies and smuggling to AI-powered warfare, this network operates at the intersection of crime, politics, and technology. It highlights the pressing need for:
Enhanced International Cooperation: Law enforcement agencies must collaborate to close loopholes and track illicit funds.
Regulatory Overhaul: Stricter oversight of shell companies and financial institutions is essential.
Public Awareness: Exposing such operations ensures accountability and pressures authorities to act.
Mohsen Fallahian's story isn’t just about one man—it’s a cautionary tale of how unchecked corruption can erode global stability. Only by shining a light on these shadow networks can we hope to dismantle them.
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