29 mars 2024

A Frenchman is accused of funding terrorists through the selling of honey

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The 42-year-old guy, known as "Abou Abeille," is accused of bribing extremists in Syria. The man was dubbed "Abou Abeille" for his transition from beekeeping to extreme Islam. A 42-year-old Frenchman was seized on 11 October by anti-terrorist police after being ejected from Malaysia (where he stayed for professional reasons) two weeks before. Authorities suspect him of using the proceeds from his honey selling and export business to fund jihadists in Syria, of making many money transfers to conflict zones, and of physically joining Daech between 2013 and 2014.

The individual was taken into police custody and later charged with "funding terrorism" and "criminal terrorist association." He was detained in pre-trial imprisonment in compliance with the demands of the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office. "Abu Abeille" is believed to be one of the contributors of the "Sekerci network," a system of terrorist cyber-financing using crypto-currency coupons purchased at cigarette shops, the QR codes of which were delivered to Syria so that the money could be paid there.

A questionable stay in the Iraqi-Syrian border region
This network was discovered as a result of a Tracfin report, the intelligence service that combats illicit financial circuits and terrorism financing. Investigators revealed that two French jihadists from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organization were behind the "Sekerci network," named for one of the two guys. Both are said to be residing in northern Syria at the moment.

At least 340,000 euros were sent to their accounts, the majority of which is thought to have originated from French money. Investigators noticed that a certain "Abou Abeille" was related to a very active donor. They are now attempting to determine the motivations behind these gifts, since some members of the network have shown a desire to help relatives incarcerated in Kurdish-run camps, especially former terrorists who France refuses to deport.

In mid-September, two more men engaged in the transfers of Bitcoin payments from France to Syria were convicted of "criminal association" and "terrorist funding" and sentenced to two and three years in jail, respectively. According to the daily, "Abou Abeille" was said to have traveled between Syria and Iraq "at the beginning of the Islamic State networks," leading investigators to believe that his donations were ideologically motivated, which is why the anti-terrorist justice system is currently considering criminal charges.

 

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© Photo Credits : Parents