You have a problem for people being prosecuted for money laundering and terror financing?
You have a problem for people being prosecuted for money laundering and terror financing?
There is no mention in the story of terrorism or money laundering - despite the Pakistani context - and there's no doubt that the FBI, IRS, and ICE would have touted that angle to the high heavens had those crimes been among the charges (perhaps as they would have been right to do).
But there are no terrorism charges, and so the best super-lame-o statement they can muster is "our resolve to financially disrupt those that commit crimes against our society and the world economy."
Equating "hawala" per se to terrorism is ridiculous and ignorant. Similar money transfer mechanisms have been used for many centuries and across all cultures and nations.
In countries with primitive, underdeveloped, and/or repressive banking systems (aka "government repression and control") these schemes are often the ONLY way to move money around for legitimate and often emergency purposes (e.g., hospital bills for an ailing grandmother).
Conventional banks often can't make these transfers at all, and even if they can it might take days or weeks to get the funds transferred. Whereas a legit money transfer agent can usually move funds from person A (in, say, the USA) to person B (in, for example, Nepal) in 48 hours or even less.
There's no problem with the IRS, FBI, and ICE going after lawbreakers, of course. But it's worth remembering that money transfer agents (including "hawala") have been in existence since there was money, and they serve an extremely valuable economic and sometimes lifesaving function despite the hamhanded efforts of some to equate it with drugs and terrorism.
Ain't scaring the American people the American way of goverment?