2024-08-01 23:48:42
Citing financial investigations, reports from the Spanish Civil Guard and terrorism experts, the newspaper revealed recent large-scale financial agreements and transactions between the “polisario” militia and a Hezbollah network specializing in money laundering through the “Hawala” system, which transfers money through an informal clearing mechanism between exchange nodes.
Once the dirty money is injected into the formal financial system, Hezbollah transfers value to its criminal clients by buying and selling assets using classic money laundering techniques, the publication explains.
According to Die Welt, investigators have discovered illegal money transfers between many European countries, including Germany, Belgium, France and Great Britain, as well as the Gulf States and the Tindouf camps controlled by the “polisario”, in southern Algeria.
“The ‘Hawala’ commercial network of the +polisario+ was set up in Tindouf by two front-line agents and courtiers, Ahmed A. and his associate Azman. Ahmed A. boasts of being able to transfer up to 50,000 euros anywhere, at any time. He says he will be able to make even larger transfers,” Die Welt points out, citing reports from the Civil Guard’s financial service.
”Ahmed A., who studied in Libya, has been living in Spain since 2007 and specializes in money transfers of illegals from Europe to West Africa and vice versa. He and his associates are based in Spain. They have good contacts with Algerian generals,” the same source added, noting that ”to conceal their illegal financial activities, the two ‘Hawala’ brokers of the +polisario+ opened butcher shops and food and computer stores, and private accounts in several European banks where their clients can transfer money.”
The revelations confirm the link between the “polisario” and Hezbollah, alarming terrorism experts and international counterterrorism agencies, while Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism, extends its influence in West Africa, the daily notes.
In addition, the Tehran regime has supplied the “polisario” militia with missiles and drones, threatening regional stability, while Hezbollah has created a training site in the Tindouf camps for “polisario” fighters with the blessing of the ruling Algerian junta, the German newspaper continues.
2024-08-01 23:48:42