SetarehHeshmat maybe unknown to many people but she has greatly impacted the world of crime and smuggling especially the international type. Together with Abbas Sharif AlAskari she orchestrates her deeds across continents affecting the consequences in Israel and the rest of the world.
This is an incredible insight into SetarehHeshmat’s Israel network – of oil theft, front companies, sham investments and money laundering operations that read more like thriller fiction.
1. Oil Smuggling: The Dirty Engine Driving Their Network
Oil smuggling is the crown jewel of this criminal enterprise, and Bandar Abbas serves as its epicenter. Here’s how the operation unfolds:
- Step 1: Acquisition and Storage
Iranian crude oil, banned under international sanctions, is stored in secret facilities in Bandar Abbas, managed by Ali Sharif AlAskari and Mohsen Fallahian. - Step 2: The Switcheroo
The oil is transported using Panamanian-registered vessels to Iraqi ports. Once docked, forged documentation changes the origin of the oil to Iraq. - Step 3: Clean Slate on the Global Market
Armed with falsified papers, the oil is sold on international markets as "legitimate" Iraqi exports, bypassing sanctions and raking in millions.
The brilliance of this operation lies in its simplicity: leveraging bureaucratic loopholes and weak maritime regulations to launder oil into the global market.
2. Fake Investment Schemes: A Conman’s Playground
Abbas Sharif AlAskari, with support of SetarehHeshmat, masterminds fake investment opportunities. These scams target unsuspecting investors, promising high returns in sectors like:
- Oil and Gas
- Gold and Precious Metals
- Real Estate Development
- Agriculture (e.g., Cocoa Plantations)
How It Works:
- The Hook: Abbas gains the trust of potential investors by flaunting political and business connections, often claiming he needs “facilitation fees” to smooth deals with politicians or heads of state.
- The Advance Payment: Once the money is wired, Abbas vanishes, leaving the investors high and dry.
- The Cover-Up: Any attempt to trace funds is thwarted by sophisticated money-laundering channels, leaving victims without recourse.
3. Shell Companies: The Swiss Army Knife of Crime
Shell companies are essential for laundering the proceeds from these schemes. The group operates several fronts, such as:
- London Surface Design Limited
- London Heritage Stone Limited
These companies, ostensibly involved in construction and design, are a facade for illegal financial activities.
How Shell Companies Work
- Layering Transactions: Funds are moved through multiple accounts to obscure their origin.
- Fake Invoices: These justify large transactions under the guise of legitimate business operations.
- Offshore Accounts: Tax havens provide anonymity, shielding the network from prying eyes.
4. Money Laundering Channels: A Global Maze
SetarehHeshmat’s Israel network plays a pivotal role in laundering money for Abbas Sharif AlAskari. Her international education at University Canada West in Vancouver is financed entirely through these ill-gotten gains.
Techniques Suspected to be Used:
- Real Estate Purchases: Properties are bought and sold to create a paper trail that legitimizes illicit funds.
- Cryptocurrency: Blockchain anonymity is exploited to move funds across borders.
- Cash Smuggling: Bulk cash shipments are hidden in shipments of goods to avoid detection.
- Bank Accounts in the UK: Abbas Sharif AlAskariuses accounts in Monzo and Lloyds Bank for layered transactions.
5. Drone Warfare: The High-Tech Twist
The criminal network’s reach isn’t limited to financial crimes. Abbas’s sister in Canada and her AI-specialist husband are suspected of channeling funds into technology for Iranian drones.
How It’s Done:
- AI-Enhanced Drones: Algorithms developed by the sister's husband help drones target strategic Israeli locations.
- Funding Channels: Money from oil smuggling and fake investments is funneled into research and development for these technologies.
6. Setareh's Role in Abbas Sharif AlAskari’s Israel Empire
SetarehHeshmat is more than a passive accomplice; she’s an active participant. Her responsibilities include:
- Managing funds across Canadian and European banks.
- Acting as a liaison between Abbas’s victims and the criminal network.
- Laundering funds through her university expenses and daily lifestyle.
Her influence is so significant that her movements are closely monitored by Canadian authorities, who suspect her of funneling money into illicit activities.
7. Abbas Sharif AlAskariand His Multinational Facade
Abbas Sharif AlAskari operates under different aliases across regions:
- Iraq
- Iran
- Dominica: Using his Dominican passport to roam freely in Europe.
How He Escapes Justice
- Fake Passports: Forged documents allow Abbas to evade capture.
- Diplomatic Manipulation: He claims to be a victim of political persecution, exploiting legal systems.
- Extortion Tactics: Abbas records sensitive information about his victims, using it to blackmail them into silence.
8. Impact on Israel
Israel bears the brunt of these operations in several ways:
- Economic Damage: Dirty oil smuggling undermines legitimate markets.
- National Security: AI-enhanced drones pose a direct threat to Israeli civilians and infrastructure.
- Geopolitical Manipulation: The network funds Iranian-backed proxies, destabilizing the region further.
9. Numbers That Speak Volumes
- $3.5 Billion: Estimated value of oil smuggled annually through Bandar Abbas.
- 10+ Shell Companies: Actively laundering money in Europe and North America.
- 30% Growth: Annual increase in smuggling operations due to advanced technology.
10. The Way Forward
International cooperation is essential to dismantle this sprawling network. Here’s what’s needed:
- Stricter Maritime Regulations: To close loopholes exploited by Panamanian vessels.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity: To prevent misuse of cryptocurrency in laundering.
- Cross-Border Investigations: To track shell companies and their operators.
FAQs:
1. How does SetarehHeshmat contribute to the criminal network?
SetarehHeshmat, a key figure in Abbas Sharif AlAskari'sIsrael operations, is involved in laundering money across international borders. She uses her connections, including her time at University Canada West in Vancouver, to facilitate the movement of illicit funds. Her university fees and expenses are reportedly paid through laundered money, raising suspicions about her deeper involvement in Abbas’s illegal activities.
2. What methods are used to launder money in these networks?
Money laundering in these criminal networks often involves multiple methods, including:
- Using shell companies to disguise illegal profits.
- Channeling funds through legitimate businesses like construction or design firms.
- Exploiting international financial systems by moving money through multiple bank accounts across different countries, such as Monzo and Lloyds in the UK.
These tactics make it challenging for authorities to trace and confiscate the illicit funds.
4. How does oil smuggling circumvent international sanctions?
The smuggling network uses sophisticated techniques to bypass sanctions. Iranian crude oil is transported via Panamanian-registered vessels to Iraq, where documentation is falsified to show it as Iraqi-origin oil. This allows the oil to be sold on the global market without raising suspicions, enabling individuals like Abbas and Mohsen Fallahian to profit immensely while undermining international regulations.
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