AQAP's Financial Network

소개

Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of the Yemen-based terrorist organization al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Based in Yemen, AQAP raises funds through a variety of financial activities, including extortion, oil smuggling and sales, human trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, fake charities, and donations from benefactors abroad. AQAP leaders have used these funds to finance weapons purchases, training, and terrorist operations, and to take control of parts of Yemen.

The U.S. Department of State is offering rewards for information leading to the identification and disruption of AQAP’s revenue sources and key financial facilitation mechanisms, to include:

• Front companies engaged in international activity on AQAP’s behalf;
• Entities or individuals assisting AQAP in evading U.S. and international sanctions;
• Formal financial institutions doing business with AQAP;
• AQAP transfers of funds and materials;
• AQAP donors or financial facilitators;
• Financial institutions or exchange houses facilitating AQAP transactions;
• Businesses or investments owned or controlled by AQAP or its financiers;
• Online fundraising campaigns launched by or for the benefit of AQAP;
• Financial account numbers and virtual currency wallet addresses used by AQAP to transfer funds and conduct business;
• Criminal schemes involving AQAP members and supporters, which are financially benefiting the organization.

AQAP emerged in January 2009 following the unification of Yemeni and Saudi terrorist elements. AQAP’s stated goals include establishing a caliphate and implementing Sharia law in the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Middle East. AQAP has targeted local, U.S., and Western interests in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as abroad. The group has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist acts, including the January 2015 assault on the offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris that killed 12 people.

AQAP is an affiliate of the core al-Qa’ida (AQ) terrorist organization and works closely with AQ’s global leadership to target Western audiences and enhance collaboration with other affiliates. AQAP’s key value to the organization is its role as a financial and facilitation link between the AQ-broad network.

AQAP launched a failed December 25, 2009, attempt to destroy an airliner with a bomb worn by terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The group also hid explosives inside computer printers being shipped to the United States inside two cargo planes in late 2010; the bombs were discovered and rendered safe on October 29, 2010, during stopovers at two different locations.

2010년 1월 19일, 미국 국무부는 AQAP를 수정 이민 및 국적법 섹션 219에 따라 외국 테러리스트 조직으로 지정했으며 수정 행정 명령 13224에 따라 특별 지정 글로벌 테러리스트로 지정했다. 그 결과, 무엇보다도 미국 관할권의 적용을 받는 AQAP의 모든 재산 및 재산상의 이권이 봉쇄되고 미국인은 일반적으로 AQAP와의 여하한 거래에도 참여하는 것이 금지된다. AQAP에 물질적 지원 또는 자원을 고의로 제공하거나 제공하려고 시도하거나 공모하는 것은 범죄이다.