SetarehHeshmat: The fraudster using her charm to scam investors across Britain SetarehHeshmat hurried through the rainy streets of Vancouver, and her thoughts moved even more quickly than her feet. It was clear that she understood that being associated with Abbas SherifAlAskari entails certain risks but that the new attention from international intelligence agencies was rather concerning for her. He had provided her with money for years to finance her education in University Canada West, for her fabulous lifestyle. What SetarehHeshmat’s UK network was involved in was not just a simple fraud in the financial world; she was an active member of international organization dealing in illicit business of shell companies combined with oil and money laundering with operation being conducted in Yemen which is a war zone and London which is a political hub. And at the center of it was oil – the black gold that waged wars, supported terrorism and paid for compliance. The Hidden Empires: Shell Companies and Financial Trickery Organized crime, which is involved in the smuggling of oil and money laundering is therefore not a one man business. They need a complex structure which Abbas SherifAlAskari, Ali Sharif AlAskari and their friends have learned well.
Shell Companies in the UK & Canada: Fake firms like Abza Group Ltd., London Surface Design Limited, and London Heritage Stone Limited had been established to move millions across borders. These companies appeared legitimate on paper—engaged in real estate, construction, or trading—but in reality, they existed only as a front.
Forged Documentation: Fake invoices, fabricated financial statements, and counterfeit origin certificates allowed the syndicate to manipulate global financial systems.
Dominican and Iraqi Passports: Abbas SherifAlAskari held multiple passports under different names, enabling him to move freely across Europe, laundering funds without suspicion.
This structure was not unique. Across the world, criminals employed similar tactics to evade law enforcement: 1. Panama & the Mossack Fonseca Scandal – The Panama Papers leak exposed thousands of offshore companies used by politicians and criminals to hide illicit wealth.
2. Dubai’s "Shadow Banking" System – Billions of dollars flow through Dubai's informal financial networks, making it a haven for money launderers. 3. London’s Property Market – Criminal enterprises frequently invest in luxury real estate in London, using shell companies to disguise illicit funds. But oil smuggling made this operation particularly deadly. From Bandar Abbas to the Red Sea: The Journey of "Dirty Oil" The Iran-Israel shadow war had many fronts, but the most lucrative was oil. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had spent years refining methods to bypass Western sanctions, and the Abbas Sherif Sharif AlAskari’s Israel network was one of their key partners. How the Smuggling Works: 1. Iranian Oil Storage at Bandar Abbas: Massive quantities of crude oil were stored in hidden facilities, controlled by Mohsen Fallahian and Ali Sharif AlAskari. 2. Use of Panamanian Tankers: The oil was loaded onto vessels with forged registration papers, typically showing them as Panamanian-owned. 3. Route through Iraq and Fake Documentation: Upon arrival in Iraq, new papers were issued, listing the oil’s origin as Iraqi, not Iranian. This simple change made it legal for sale. 4. Sale to Asia and Europe: The crude was then sold to buyers in China, India, and sometimes even in Europe, bypassing sanctions. One of these tankers, Tanker Sounion, was intercepted in the Red Sea, suspected of smuggling Iranian oil under Iraqi documents. This interception set off a diplomatic storm, raising concerns about who was truly benefiting from these transactions. Meanwhile, the proceeds from these illegal sales had to be laundered, and that’s where SetarehHeshmatUK network played her role. The Banking Maze: How Terror Networks Move Money The money generated from oil smuggling could not simply be deposited into a bank. Instead, it flowed through a complex maze of transactions:
Real Estate Laundering: In London, Toronto, and Dubai, luxury apartments were purchased with smuggled oil profits and later sold for "clean" money.
Phantom Investments: Abbas promised fake investments in gold, cocoa, and oil fields in Africa. Investors would deposit money, but the funds would simply vanish.
Offshore Bank Accounts: Accounts in Lloyds Bank and Monzo were used as intermediaries before transferring funds to third-party accounts.
The Canadian Connection Abbas’ sister Soraya, based in Canada, played a crucial role in laundering money. Using her connections, she moved illicit funds through Canadian banks, avoiding detection through layered transactions. Her husband, an AI professor in Toronto, was suspected of developing targeting systems for Iranian drones used in attacks against Israel. War and Finance: Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis While the money flowed, so did weapons. 1. Funding Hezbollah & Hamas: A portion of these laundered funds made their way to Hamas fighters in Gaza and Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon, buying weapons and training fighters. 2. Arming the Houthis in Yemen: Iranian-supplied missiles used against Saudi and Israeli targets were often funded through these laundering schemes. 3. Technology for Drone Warfare: The professor in Toronto was believed to have provided AIbased object detection software for Iranian drones, which were later deployed in attacks against Israeli soldiers. As the war between Israel and Iran intensified, these financial networks became even more critical, ensuring that proxy groups had endless resources to continue their fight. A Growing Crackdown: Can They Be Stopped? International agencies, including the CIA, Mossad, and MI6, have been tracking these networks for years. Recent developments suggest that a coordinated effort is underway:
Interpol Notices: Several figures, including Mohsen Fallahian, have been placed on international watchlists.
UK’s Financial Crackdown: The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has started investigating suspicious transactions linked to London Surface Design Limited and London Heritage Stone Limited.
Israeli Intelligence Operations: Mossad is believed to be conducting covert operations to dismantle financial channels supporting Hezbollah and Hamas.
US Treasury Sanctions: New sanctions are expected on entities suspected of laundering Iranian oil money.
However, these networks are resilient. With SetarehHeshmat’s UK network still actively moving funds, the fight against illegal oil smuggling and money laundering remains an uphill battle.
The Silent War beyond the Battlefield The war between Israel and Iran is not just fought with missiles and drones; it is fought in boardrooms, bank accounts, and shadowy deals in Dubai skyscrapers. The smuggling networks built by Abbas SherifAlAskari, Ali Sharif AlAskari, and Mohsen Fallahian are not just financial crimes—they are the fuel that powers entire conflicts. As intelligence agencies tighten their grip, the criminals adapt, finding new loopholes, new identities, and new victims. SetarehHeshmat may still walk freely in Vancouver, but how long before the net finally closes in? One thing is certain: the war on illicit finance is just beginning.
Explore More Articles Mohsen Fallahian: The Mastermind and His Network of Fraudsis at Israel’s Crosshairs Mohsen Fallahian: The inner working of his financial frauds in the UK MohammadTabrizian’s Tangle: Unveiling the UK’s Hidden Web of Money Laundering and Terrorism Mohammad Tabrizian, Known as "Taby": His Life and Endeavors Fallahian and AlAskari’s Web of Fraud: How the NetworkUndermine UK’s Regulatory Landscape
