Pubdate: Tue, 03 Sep 2002 Source: New York Post (NY) Copyright: 2002 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc. Contact: http://www.nypost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/296 TALIBAN THUGS STILL BULLION-AIRES September 3, 2002 -- Financial officers of al Qaeda and the Taliban have quietly shipped large quantities of gold out of Pakistan to Sudan in recent weeks, transiting through the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to European, Pakistani and U.S. investigators. Sources said several shipments of gold, usually disguised as other products, were taken by small boat from the Pakistani port of Karachi to either Iran or Dubai, and from there mixed with other goods and flown by chartered planes to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. Although it is unclear how much gold has been moved, U.S. and European officials said the quantity was significant and was an important indicator that the al Qaeda network and members of Afghanistan's deposed Taliban militia still had access to large financial reserves. European and U.S. intelligence officials said the movement of gold also highlighted three significant developments: * The growing role of Iranian intelligence units allied with the country's clerics in aiding al Qaeda. * The potential re-emergence of Sudan as a financial center. * The ability of the terrorist group to generate new sources of revenue despite the global crackdown on its finances. The sources said Sudan may have been chosen because Osama bin Laden and other members of the network are familiar with the country and retain business contacts there. They said traditional havens for al Qaeda money on the Arabian peninsula such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates were under intense international scrutiny, while transactions in Sudan could more easily pass unnoticed. Gold has for years been the preferred financial instrument of the Taliban and al Qaeda. Most of the Taliban treasury was kept in gold when the militia ruled Afghanistan, and taxes were often collected in gold. Just before the Taliban and al Qaeda were driven from Afghanistan last year, they shipped large amounts of gold to Dubai, and from there to other safe havens, according to U.S., European and Arab officials. Washington Post - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom