Setareh Heshmat: How a Secret Network of Financial Deception Fuels Conflict in the Middle East
14 Feb, 2025
The Rise of Setareh Heshmat: A Hidden Player in a Global Conspiracy
Setareh Heshmat spends her time among students at a Vancouver university in the same way they do. The seemingly ordinary student displays a profound link to an advanced worldwide financial operation that spans numerous continents. Setareh Heshmat maintains vital position with shadow operator Abbas Sherif AlAskari as she operates front and center in financial fraud while helping to wash off tainted money so dark money continues supporting conflicts and militants and remains beyond sanctions.
The narrative extends far beyond a single individual whereas it defines an intricate web comprising secret corporations along with deceitful financial operations designed to fool official entities to benefit those inside the unseen world of racketeering.
A Complex Web of Deception
The Use of Front Companies
Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s UK network runs business operations which involve deception as his core operation despite presenting himself publicly as a regular businessman. His legitimate appearance relies on operating business entities which he registers under UK and Canadian jurisdiction. Abza Group Ltd. operates from the UK as a facsimile company which exists mainly on documents without a physical presence to transfer financial resources between nations. Financial entities maintain their anonymity as they function to conceal wealth sources by processing funds through permissible banking systems to evade detection.
The fraud scheme hides funds by creating multiple business transactions between entities therefore destroying the capacity to identify the initial money source. The illicit funds systematically move through multiple banking systems in various nations as shell corporations transfer money between each other until they achieve a state of being cleaned for intended destinations.
How Real Estate Becomes a Tool for Fraud
Real estate has long been a favorite method for disguising illicit funds, and Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s UK network has exploited this avenue to its full potential. Fraudulent investment schemes promise high returns in luxury developments in Europe and Africa, luring unsuspecting investors. Once funds are received, they are either funneled into other criminal enterprises or simply vanish, leaving investors with nothing.
What makes real estate fraud particularly effective is the complexity of property ownership. By using offshore companies, trusts, and legal loopholes, properties can be bought and sold with little transparency, allowing criminals to convert illicit cash into valuable assets.
The Energy Trade: A Lifeline for Sanctioned Regimes
The Secret Oil Routes
A significant portion of the money funneled through these fraudulent networks comes from an elaborate scheme involving oil shipment. Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s Israel associates operate by taking sanctioned oil from restricted countries, repackaging it with falsified documents, and selling it as legal exports. The trick lies in how the oil's origin is disguised.
Using a network of Panamanian-registered ships, oil is first transported to intermediary ports before being transferred to another vessel. The documentation is altered to make it appear as though the oil originated from a country that is not under sanctions. Once this process is complete, the disguised cargo is sold on the international market, generating immense profits that are then laundered through Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s UK network.
The Financial Instruments of Deception
To facilitate these deals, financial instruments such as letters of credit and offshore accounts are used. These allow for transactions to occur without immediate scrutiny, creating an additional layer of complexity that makes detection nearly impossible.
The Role of Technology in Modern-Day Conflict
Artificial Intelligence and Warfare
Financial fraud is not the only concern; advanced technology is also playing a significant role in modern conflicts. One of the most alarming aspects of this network is its alleged involvement in AI-powered military technology. An individual closely tied to the operation, a professor in Canada specializing in AI and computing, is suspected of developing sophisticated targeting systems used in drone warfare.
Drones equipped with AI-driven target acquisition have been a game-changer in conflict zones, providing militant groups with unprecedented precision. The technology allows for autonomous or semi-autonomous decision-making in selecting targets, reducing reliance on human operators while increasing the effectiveness of attacks. The funding for such developments is believed to be linked to the very money laundering schemes that Setareh Heshmat helps facilitate.
The Digital Trail: Cryptocurrency and Financial Evasion
In addition to traditional banking, cryptocurrencies are playing an increasing role in this hidden economy. Digital currencies allow for rapid, untraceable transactions that move money across borders without detection. Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s network has reportedly been using crypto assets to bypass financial sanctions, converting illicit funds into digital currencies before redistributing them into legitimate business ventures.
The Intelligence Community Closes In
Law Enforcement's Pursuit
Authorities across Europe, North America, and the Middle East have been piecing together this intricate puzzle for years. Intelligence reports indicate that Abbas Sherif AlAskari, Setareh Heshmat, and their associates are under active surveillance. Financial watchdogs have flagged suspicious transactions linked to accounts in Monzo and Lloyds Bank in the UK, which are believed to be used for laundering activities.
Moreover, the UK's Home Office is reportedly investigating how fraudulent residency permits were obtained for members of this network. Insider connections within immigration services may have facilitated these illegal acquisitions, allowing individuals with criminal ties to establish a legal foothold in Western countries.
The Human Cost of Financial Crimes
While this complex operation may seem like a high-stakes game of deception, the consequences are far more severe. The money funneled through these fraudulent schemes does not just enrich criminals—it fuels conflicts, funds armed groups, and destabilizes entire regions.
The Way Forward: Unraveling the Network
Strengthening Financial Oversight
Governments and financial institutions must implement stricter regulations to prevent fraudulent activities. Enhanced transparency in real estate transactions, stricter corporate registration policies, and improved scrutiny of cryptocurrency transactions can help curb financial crimes.
International Cooperation in Law Enforcement
Given the cross-border nature of these operations, cooperation between intelligence agencies, financial regulators, and law enforcement is crucial. The ability to track suspicious transactions in real-time and impose sanctions on entities that facilitate illicit finance will be key to dismantling these networks.
The Battle between Law and Deception
Setareh Heshmat may appear to be just another university student, but her connections to a sophisticated financial empire place her at the heart of an international game of deception. Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s UK network has perfected the art of hiding illicit funds in plain sight, exploiting global financial loopholes to sustain conflict, fund technological advancements in warfare, and manipulate economic systems.
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