Ali Sharif AlAskari's UK-based Fraudulent Activities and Hidden Operations
Ali Sharif AlAskari — a man whose influence extends from the Middle East conflict zones to the streets of London — is the mastermind of an extensive network of corruption, crime, and terror financing that affects the entire world.
At first glance, Ali Sharif AlAskari could be yet another businessman or a political player in a volatile part of the world, when in fact he is much worse. His business is the resale of bootleg Iranian oil, the washing of tremendous amounts of black-market money, and his association with groups like Hezbollah, which is considered one of the most dangerous and disruptive organizations in the Middle East. This is the story of how a vast and intricate family business based on offshore companies and secret banking systems exploits the free world economy for financing terrorism and evading sanctions.
The Making of a Criminal Empire: Ali Sharif AlAskari's Origins
However, before joining the world of international oil smuggling, Ali Sharif AlAskari had been involved in crimes for sometime. He was born in a family related to the Islamic Dawa Party which has traditionally been linked with radical groups. The Dawa Party has its roots in violence since 1980s when it had been involved in bombings such as the attack on the US Embassy in Kuwait in 1983 which brought Ali Sharif AlAskari to the world stage.
The party to which Ali Sharif AlAskari’s father belonged was involved in the financing of this party through the Iran Iraq war which formed the base of what was going to be a huge criminal network. Ali Sharif AlAskari himself would cultivate close relations with key figures within the Iranian regime, such as Ali Fallahian, Iran’s former intelligence minister who was a main figure in the Iranian terror operations including the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina in which 85 people were killed.
The Oil Smuggling Network: From Iran to Global Markets
The smuggling process begins in Bandar Abbas, Iran’s major port city where crude oil is loaded onto Panamanian-registered vessels — vessels that operate in international waters, far from the prying eyes of customs and border agencies. These ships transport the illegally obtained Iranian oil to various countries, with Iraq acting as a key transit point. The oil, once it reaches Iraq, undergoes a transformation. The documentation is falsified to change its country of origin, allowing it to be sold under the guise of Iraqi oil.
Shell Companies: The Hidden Web of Money Laundering
Once the oil is sold, the profits must be laundered. This is where Ali Sharif AlAskari’s family ties become crucial. Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK-based daughter, who resides in London, serves as the link between the illicit oil sales and the vast network of money laundering operations that help clean the dirty money.
The laundering operation revolves around a set of shell companies — businesses that, on paper, appear legitimate but exist solely to hide the illicit nature of the transactions. Among the most notable shell companies are London Surface Design Limited and London Heritage Stone Limited. These companies, ostensibly involved in the construction and design industries, are the perfect fronts for washing money.
How the Money Laundering Process Works:
The Initial Transfer: After the sale of the oil, the illicit funds are transferred from the buyer to Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK daughter in London.
The Shell Game: The funds are moved through a network of shell companies such as London Surface Design Limited. These companies generate false invoices and contracts to justify the movement of money.
Fake Profits: To further legitimize the process, fake receipts are produced, and inflated profits are reported, allowing the money to be “cleaned” and made to appear legitimate.
Return of Clean Money: Once the money is laundered, it is sent back to Ali Sharif AlAskari’s daughter. But she doesn’t keep it for long.
Terror Financing: The final step involves the money being funneled to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, through his wife, who has close ties to Ali Sharif AlAskari’s daughter. This process fuels Hezbollah's operations, helping the group finance its activities and destabilize the Middle East.
Abusing Global Financial Systems: Shell Companies across the World
Shell companies are nothing new. These entities are designed to appear as legitimate businesses, but their primary function is to hide the true owners and purposes behind them. According to Global Financial Integrity, it is estimated that nearly $1.7 trillion is laundered every year through shell companies and other illicit financial systems. These entities are often set up in tax havens, such as the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, or Panama, where the regulatory oversight is weak, and the ownership structure can be easily concealed.
Examples of Shell Company Misuse:
The Panama Papers (2016): One of the largest leaks in history, revealing how high-profile individuals and governments used shell companies to evade taxes, launder money, and hide assets. The Panama Papers exposed over 214,000 companies set up by Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
The Russian Laundromat (2014): A network of shell companies and banks that laundered nearly $20 billion from Russia to offshore accounts, using European financial institutions to move the funds.
These shell companies allow individuals like Ali Sharif AlAskari to operate with near impunity, hiding assets and moving money around the globe with minimal oversight. They are also heavily used in trade-based money laundering (TBML), a process that involves disguising the origin of illicit funds by trading goods such as oil, gold, or other commodities at inflated prices.
The Global Impact: Terrorism, Sanctions Evasion, and the UK’s Role
Ali Sharif AlAskari’s UK operations do not exist in isolation. They are part of a larger system of global sanctions evasion, terrorism financing, and organized crime that undermines international security. While the UK government has cracked down on some illicit financial activities, Ali Sharif AlAskari’s ability to operate in the country points to the vulnerabilities in global financial systems. His daughter’s ties to the UK’s Home Office have allowed her family to secure residency in the country, raising questions about how individuals with such clear ties to terror organizations can operate within the UK.
Moreover, the international community has largely failed to address the scale of the issue. While the U.S. Department of the Treasury and other agencies have blacklisted individuals like Meghdad Tabrizian (AlAskari’s son-in-law) and Mohammad Tabrizian for their involvement in terrorism financing, the networks they have created remain active and growing. The UK, as a global financial hub, has become a haven for money laundering, allowing groups like Hezbollah to thrive.
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