Posted By: StLguy
Rackets of the Syrian Civil War - 06/26/15 12:47 AM
I have been reading about this conflict a lot in the past few months. There just seems to be tons of racketeering/OC type material to be found. I tried to gather up a few interesting articles, but this just seems to scratch the surface.
http://world.time.com/2013/10/28/syrias-breaking-bad-are-amphetamines-funding-the-war/
Syria’s Breaking Bad: Are Amphetamines Funding the War?
"In one month, Lebanese authorities confiscated more than $200 million worth of a potent amphetamine that is almost entirely unheard of in the West. But in the Persian Gulf, Captagon, as the amphetamine is known, is the most sought-after drug on the street, and the conflict in Syria, with its attendant lawlessness, is making it even easier to obtain....As the war drags on, it is all the more likely that Captagon will take on a significant role funding warring parties in the conflict. The captured cargo trucks were owned by a Sunni Syrian clan long linked to the drug trade that fled the besieged city of Homs last year to set up shop in Lebanon, says Chams Eddine, who suspects that the proceeds may have been used in part to fund anti–Bashar Assad rebels. “They run two or three operations like that, and they can easily get $300 million. That would buy a lot of guns.”"
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/shoot-...trade-392617814
Shoot-out on Jordanian border reveals link between Syria war and drugs trade
"Captagon is the brand name of a psychostimulant called Fenethylline. It’s an amphetamine known to be used by militants in Syria and Iraq, in order to give them a chemical boost to fight longer and harder....In Jordan, Captagon is a recreational drug. It’s used by high-school and university students looking to cheat sleep in exam season, or for a speedy, amphetamine buzz. Users report feeling alert, focused, better able to concentrate. "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...-pillaging.html
Islamic State sets up 'ministry of antiquities' to reap the profits of pillaging
"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) has established a "ministry of antiquities" to maximise the profits from looting priceless artefacts across the territory it controls...The trade has raised tens of millions of dollars for Isil – a sum comparable to the profit the terrorists have made by the kidnap and ransom of Western hostages."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ly-victims.html
Conned by jihadi cold callers: Yard reveals pensioners are being fleeced out of savings by ISIS backers
"Islamic fanatics are stealing the life savings of UK pensioners to bankroll jihad in Syria.
Masquerading as policemen, the extremists cold-call their targets and claim their bank details have been compromised.
The frightened and unsuspecting victims are told to switch all their cash to another account to keep it safe. But the account belongs to the fraudsters and the money vanishes. It will be used to buy weapons, ammunition and combat gear for Islamic State militants"
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11...r/#.VYydgOrJCTN
Turkey seeks to bust vast smuggling racket bringing in meat from Syria: minister
"Turkish authorities have launched a major operation aimed at crushing a suspected gang that illegally brought in over 1,000 tons of beef from Syria, the customs minister said, describing the haul as Turkey’s biggest-ever smuggling case"
http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2...ortion-rackets/
Islamic State Mostly Financed Through Extortion Rackets
"The FATF, in its report, analogized Islamic State’s extortion efforts to those of an organized crime group, saying the group conducts its racket under the auspices of providing protection. “The effectiveness of [Islamic State] extortion relies on the threat or use of force within its operational territory,” the report said."
http://world.time.com/2013/10/28/syrias-breaking-bad-are-amphetamines-funding-the-war/
Syria’s Breaking Bad: Are Amphetamines Funding the War?
"In one month, Lebanese authorities confiscated more than $200 million worth of a potent amphetamine that is almost entirely unheard of in the West. But in the Persian Gulf, Captagon, as the amphetamine is known, is the most sought-after drug on the street, and the conflict in Syria, with its attendant lawlessness, is making it even easier to obtain....As the war drags on, it is all the more likely that Captagon will take on a significant role funding warring parties in the conflict. The captured cargo trucks were owned by a Sunni Syrian clan long linked to the drug trade that fled the besieged city of Homs last year to set up shop in Lebanon, says Chams Eddine, who suspects that the proceeds may have been used in part to fund anti–Bashar Assad rebels. “They run two or three operations like that, and they can easily get $300 million. That would buy a lot of guns.”"
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/shoot-...trade-392617814
Shoot-out on Jordanian border reveals link between Syria war and drugs trade
"Captagon is the brand name of a psychostimulant called Fenethylline. It’s an amphetamine known to be used by militants in Syria and Iraq, in order to give them a chemical boost to fight longer and harder....In Jordan, Captagon is a recreational drug. It’s used by high-school and university students looking to cheat sleep in exam season, or for a speedy, amphetamine buzz. Users report feeling alert, focused, better able to concentrate. "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnew...-pillaging.html
Islamic State sets up 'ministry of antiquities' to reap the profits of pillaging
"Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) has established a "ministry of antiquities" to maximise the profits from looting priceless artefacts across the territory it controls...The trade has raised tens of millions of dollars for Isil – a sum comparable to the profit the terrorists have made by the kidnap and ransom of Western hostages."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...ly-victims.html
Conned by jihadi cold callers: Yard reveals pensioners are being fleeced out of savings by ISIS backers
"Islamic fanatics are stealing the life savings of UK pensioners to bankroll jihad in Syria.
Masquerading as policemen, the extremists cold-call their targets and claim their bank details have been compromised.
The frightened and unsuspecting victims are told to switch all their cash to another account to keep it safe. But the account belongs to the fraudsters and the money vanishes. It will be used to buy weapons, ammunition and combat gear for Islamic State militants"
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11...r/#.VYydgOrJCTN
Turkey seeks to bust vast smuggling racket bringing in meat from Syria: minister
"Turkish authorities have launched a major operation aimed at crushing a suspected gang that illegally brought in over 1,000 tons of beef from Syria, the customs minister said, describing the haul as Turkey’s biggest-ever smuggling case"
http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2...ortion-rackets/
Islamic State Mostly Financed Through Extortion Rackets
"The FATF, in its report, analogized Islamic State’s extortion efforts to those of an organized crime group, saying the group conducts its racket under the auspices of providing protection. “The effectiveness of [Islamic State] extortion relies on the threat or use of force within its operational territory,” the report said."