US authorities are secretly scrutinizing over 500 of Muslim and Arab small businesses operating in the country. The traders are suspected of funding terrorist activities, by transmitting dirty money to extremist groups overseas, the Washington Post reported.
The probe into the finances of Arab-American businesses, most of which are convenience stores, was launched as part of intensive investigations into the financial sources of the September 11 terror attacks on the US.
Domestic petty scams, suspected to be generating tens of millions of dollars a year for terrorist organizations, include skimming drug sales profits, stealing and reselling baby formula, illegally redeeming huge quantities of grocery coupons, collecting fraudulent welfare payments, swiping credit card numbers and hawking unlicensed T-shirts, the report specified.
A number of law enforcement agencies involved in the crackdown are searching for similarities in Muslim businesses’ financial practices and money transfer methods to determine whether their activities are coordinated. Investigators tracking terror funds suspect the money has gone to groups that support Palestinian suicide bombing, including Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
