UK Residency Fraud: How Abbas AlAskari and Mohsen Fallahian Eluded Justice

 

In a sprawling international network of criminal activity, Abbas SherifAlAskari and his associates, including Mohsen Fallahian and a cadre of Iranian operatives, are making headlines for their involvement in fraudulent residency schemes, oil smuggling operations, and financial crimes that extend across borders. Their illicit activities have also raised alarms regarding possible terrorist financing, casting a shadow on global financial systems and security efforts.

Abbas AlAskari’s Fraudulent Web

Operating under multiple aliases, Abbas AlAskari, who holds three passports from Dominica, Iraq (as Ali Sharif AlAskari), and Iran, has managed to evade law enforcement for years. Abbas’ Dominican Passport allows him to freely roam across  Europe and launder money. His ability to disguise his identity and travel freely to the UK and Europe has allowed him to continue his fraudulent operations.

AlAskari’s daughter, a key player in the network, is closely linked to Hezbollah, the Lebanese paramilitary group known for its militant activities. Married to MeghdadTabrizian, an Iranian with deep ties to Tehran's elite, she has become the financial link between her father and terrorist organizations. Not only does she facilitate financial fraud through shell companies, but she also launders money that seems to end up funding Hezbollah and their operations in Lebanon.

Oil Smuggling Operation: Exploiting the Red Sea Route

At the heart of Abbas AlAskari and Mohsen Fallahian’s criminal empire is an oil smuggling operation that uses Panamanian-registered vessels to transport Iranian oil to Iraq, where the documentation is altered to show Iraqi origin. The oil is then sold on the global market, bypassing international sanctions against Iran. One of the primary routes involves tankers like the "Sounion," which sail through the Red Sea to evade detection.

By falsifying the origin of the oil, AlAskari and Fallahian are able to sell what is essentially illegal oil while circumventing sanctions. This sophisticated operation has allowed them to amass vast profits, which are then laundered through their global financial networks.

Cross-Border Financial Fraud Techniques

AlAskari and his associates, particularly Mohsen Fallahian and MeghdadTabrizian, have created a network of shell companies in the UK to clean their dirty money. These companies—allegedly involved in the construction and design sectors—exist primarily to funnel the proceeds from their illegal oil sales into legitimate-seeming accounts. They exploit vulnerabilities in the UK's financial system, taking advantage of loopholes in financial regulations to mask their illicit transactions.

False contracts and fake business deals are routinely created to justify large cash flows. The funds, once laundered, are transferred back to AlAskari’s daughter, who then distributes portions to Hezbollah operatives. This illegal network has drawn attention from UK authorities, as the funds appear to be supporting terrorist activities both in the Middle East and Europe.

Connections to Hezbollah and Terrorist Financing

SherifAlAskari’s daughter is not only implicated in financial fraud but is also connected to the terrorist organization Hezbollah through her close friendship with the wife of Hassan Nasrallah, the General Secretary of the group. Hezbollah has long been engaged in militant activities in Lebanon, often clashing with Israeli forces and operating as a proxy for Iranian interests in the region. The financial ties between AlAskari’s family and Hezbollah raise serious concerns about terrorist financing. Point to be noted is that SherifAlAskari’s father is an active member of the Islamic DawaParty, that supported Islamic revolution in Iran, and is thought to be behind the bombing of the US Embassy in Kuwait in the month of December 1983.

Ali Fallahian, a former Iranian intelligence minister, is another crucial figure in this network. Fallahian is well-known for his role in state-sponsored terrorism, including the bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people in 1994. This familial connection illustrates the deep ties between AlAskari’s family and Iran’s shadowy operations.

Fraudulent Residency and UK’s Immigration Vulnerabilities

Adding another layer of deceit, AlAskari and his family obtained UK residency through fraudulent means, further exploiting the country’s legal and financial systems. Inside connections within the UK Home Office enabled them to bypass immigration regulations, allowing them to establish a base of operations in the UK. AlAskari's daughter and her husband, MeghdadTabrizian, are reported to have used their connections within Iranian intelligence to fast-track their residency status.

The Fallahian Connection: A Web of Crime and Corruption

Mohsen Fallahian, another key figure in this global network, has been operating alongside Abbas AlAskari for years. Fallahian’s history is mired in criminality, from his involvement in the Iranian oil industry to his use of forged Turkish passports. His father, Ali Fallahian, was infamous for his role in organizing and executing terrorist attacks, including the 1992 Mykonos restaurant assassinations in Berlin, where Kurdish-Iranian opposition leaders were killed.

Mohsen Fallahian has continued the family tradition of criminality, controlling oil storage facilities in Bandar Abbas and facilitating the illegal export of oil. His use of a forged Italian residency, obtained through fake documentation, demonstrates the lengths to which these operatives will go to evade justice.

AI and Drone Technology in Iranian Operations

Recent reports have highlighted how this criminal network is leveraging modern technologies, particularly AI and drone technology, to further their illicit activities. While there is no direct evidence linking these technologies to terrorist attacks, the possibility that they are being used to enhance Iranian military operations is concerning.

In particular, drones have become a critical tool for surveillance and attacks in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. AI-driven systems developed in Iran have played a role in identifying targets and coordinating strikes, raising alarms about the potential misuse of technological advancements for violent ends.

Conclusion: A Global Threat

The criminal empire of Abbas SherifAlAskari, Mohsen Fallahian, and their associates represents a significant threat to international security. From oil smuggling and money laundering to fraudulent residency schemes and terrorist financing, their operations span continents and exploit weaknesses in global systems.

As authorities in the UK, Israel, and other countries intensify their investigations, it is clear that this network will not be dismantled easily. The involvement of high-ranking Iranian officials, including Ali Fallahian, only complicates matters, as these criminals continue to use their political connections to shield themselves from justice.

The international community must work together to address these vulnerabilities, strengthen sanctions, and close loopholes that allow criminal networks like AlAskari’s to flourish. The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction could be dire for global stability.