"Which publicly traded companies (US and/or foreign) have operations
which may directly or indirectly support terrorist networks?"

---

Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 15 May 2002 17:15 PDT

Hi!  What do you mean by "directly or indirectly support"?  Would a
company that makes agricultural chemicals (which can be used to make
bombs) be included?  A company that makes box cutters?  A
flight-training school?  I'd like to answer the question, but it's
unclear to me what type of companies you're interested in.   Thanks!

Thanks for the question. It is a little vague, but I'll take a stab at
it, I'm assuming that you want a list of companies which have been
implicated or suspected of contributing to terrorist activity.
Terrorism is a broad term, so I will defer to the state departments
lists. Also, your use of the word "indirectly" makes the search almost
infinite, as is evident by the recent comercials implicating teenage
pot-smokers with terrorist attacks. I'll stick within the parameters
of the state departments investigations.

Here is a list of some of the major offenders that are publically
traded companies:

Mamoun Darkazanli Import-Export Company
Rabita Trust 
Al-Hamati Sweets Bakeries 
Jamyah Taawun al-Islamia (aka: Society of Islamic Cooperation) 
Al-Shifa Honey Press for Industry and Commerce 
Aaran Money Wire Service, Inc 
Al-Barakaat Bank 
Al-Barakat Bank of Somalia (BSS) 
Al-Barakat Finance Group 
Al-Barakat Financial Holding Co 
Al-Barakat Global Telecommunications 
Al-Barakat Group of Companies Somalia Limited 
Al-Barakat International (AKA Baraco Co) 
Al-Barakat Investments 
Al-Barakat Wiring Service 
Al Taqwa Trade, Property and Industry Company Limited, 
ASAT Trust 
Bank al Taqwa Limited 
Baraka Trading Company 
Barakaat Boston 
Barakaat Construction Company 
Barakaat Enterprise 
Barakaat Group of Companies 
Barakaat International 
Barakaat International Foundation 
Barakaat International, Inc 
Barakaat North America, Inc 
Barakaat Red Sea Telecommunications 
Barakaat Telecommunications Co Somalia 
Barakat Bank and Remittances 
Barakat Computer Consulting (BCC) 
Barakat Consulting Group (BCG) 
Barakat Global Telephone Company 
Barakat International Companies (BICO) 
Barakat Post Express (BPE) 
Barakat Refreshment Company 
Barakat Wire Transfer Company 
Barakat Telecommunications Company Limited (BTELCO) 
Barako Trading Company, LLC 
Global Services International 
Heyatul Ulya 
Nada Management Organization 
Parka Trading Company 
Red Sea Barakat Company Limited 
Somalia International Relief Organization 
Somali Internet Company 
Somali Network AB 
Youssef M. Nada & Co. Gesellschaft MBH 
Beit El-Mal Holdings 
Al-Aqsa Islamic Bank

From: U.S. Department of State
http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/2001/6531.htm

Of course, there are likely terrorist networks that have not yet been
tracked. Below are some additional quotes on the subject:

"The two men ran Barakaat North America Inc. in Dorchester, Mass., a
foreign money exchange, without a state license, according to a U.S.
Customs Service affidavit. The business moved over $2 million through
a U.S. bank from January through September, the government said."
Terrorist money targeted, Online Athens, 11/7/01
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/110801/new_1108010064.shtml

"Also watching federal agents seize evidence from Barakaat Enterprise
in Columbus, Hassan Ali, 20, a Somalian who has lived in the United
States for a decade, said Somalians often used the business to send
money to their relatives in Africa."
Terrorist money targeted, Online Athens, 11/7/01
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/110801/new_1108010064.shtml


Additional Links

St. Petersburg Times, Tracking of terrorist money puts government to
the test, ROBERT TRIGAUX, 11/18/01
http://www.sptimes.com/News/111801/Columns/Tracking_of_terrorist.shtml

Ernst and Young, Tracking terrorist networks: Smart banks are using
technology to break the new money laundering cycle
http://www.ey.com/global/gcr.nsf/UK/Forensic_Services_-_tracking_terrorist_networks

Al Qaeda has complex terrorist networks, analysts say
October 5, 2001, CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/02/inv.binladen.friends/


Google Search Terms Used

companies OR corporations terrorist network 
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=companies+OR+corporations+terrorist+network&hc=0&hs=0

"public companies" terrorism
http://google.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=%22public+companies%22+terrorism&hc=0&hs=0


I hope this helps. I'll be happy to clarify if necessary.
-Anthony

It is probably worth checking out the following urls :

http://www.treasury.gov/terrorism.html - the official list of
individuals and organisations linked to terrorism by the White House.
While this does not list only publicly traded companies, it is
probably as good a list as you will get.

Other useful information is available at :

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2001-115.txt

and www.ustreas.gov/ofac.

Now if google would speed up their processing of my application, I
could actually reply to this!

Hi Poete,

I just wanted to add the comment that list of offenders provided here
was produced in the heated days following Sept. 11.  Since, some of
the companies listed here have been cleared of involvement.  While I'm
not sure which ones specifically, I believe that, ethically, we should
approach this list with some caution.

If you're looking for a list of offenders that is up-to-date and
accurate, you will probably need to go off-line. Give the US Office of
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network a call (Switchboard: (202)
647-4000; Main address: U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 20520).

If that doesn't get you anywhere, then check the Canadian RCMP. Their
web site has a phone number Canadians can call to report terrorist
financing. Perhaps you can contact their communications department by
phone or email for the information you need. They would have an
updated list of the FBI's current suspects. Contact info is provided
at:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/news/nr-01-22.htm

I am in no way claiming to know what companies are involved in
supporting terrorism. And I have never knowingly supported terrorism
myself. I simply feel that, to be fair, we should consider the rush
and fear that came into play when this list was created, and the
misrepresentation that may have occured at this time.

For example, I live in Ottawa Canada, where one of these companies,
Barakaat North America, Inc., is based. Since the hearing has taken
place in the USA it has been publicized that the owner of this company
was not involved in the activities as described through this list.
Rather, the company is the *ONLY* operating banking service in
Somalia, and is, in fact, quite necessary for the sharing of funds
with family members who are struggling in the homeland. (sorry, I can
find no recent news articles online to share with you, so I can't give
more specific information about the final outcome with this company or
others).

It's also worth noting that many of the suspect companies run
commodity scams through local convenience stores, for example, the
Baby Formula scam reported shortly after the terrorist tragedy in New
York. So it seems very hard to tell how we may 'shop for Osama'
without even knowing it.

           Is a baby forumula scam helping fund terrorist activity?
           http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/40402_news_babyformula.html

           Health & Safety Dangers Posed by Counterfeit Products 
           http://publish.iacc.org/teampublish/109_476_1674.cfm


I hope this is helpful for you!

Cheers,


Gina M.




For more information, please see:

Yahoo's complete terrorism news source for Canada:
http://ca.fullcoverage.yahoo.com/fc/Canada/TerrorismCA/

Remarks On Financial Aspects of Terrorism at Office of Financial
Crimes Enforcement Network USA:
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2001/5979.htm

Background on suspect banking systems known as "Hawala":
http://cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/hawala.html

An article in French about the Ottawa Barakaat situation (translate to
English using Babel Fish at http://world.altavista.com/):
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/reseau/politique/0111/pol_101110033773.html

RCMP Press Release on Reporting Financial Terrorism:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/news/nr-01-22.htm

Regulations Amending the United Nations Suppression of Terrorism
Regulations (released November 2001):
http://canada.gc.ca/gazette/part2/ascII/g2-135x5_e.txt


Search Strategies using Google: 

barakaat + ottawa
terrorism + ottawa
terrorism + financial
terrorism + financial + un
"baby formula" + scam