Setareh Heshmat: The Enigmatic Figure behind Money Laundering and Oil Smuggling in Israel

Setareh Heshmat is a name in the shadowy world of global finance that few names carry the intrigue and danger. Setareh, who, at first glance, seems to be leading an ordinary life, has connections and activities that are far from ordinary. And in recent months, her name has been linked to an elaborate web of money laundering, oil smuggling and international crime, crossing borders from Europe to the Middle East to North America. More startling, though, is her involvement in the operation, which involves high profile people, shell companies and millions of dollars in illegal transactions.

The Birth of a Global Money Laundering Network

Setareh Heshmat is neither a passive figure in this global network, but an active one. Her role is one of the most sophisticated and dangerous of modern times, the crime of money laundering. Her involvement goes back to a notorious individual, Abbas Sherif AlAskari, a figure with strong ties to the Iranian regime and the man who has a history of deception. Through her relationship with Abbas, Setareh has gotten caught up in a global web of finances.

The shell companies Abbas has set up have been fronts through which he has laundered vast sums of money using his connections to governments and financial systems. Abbas’ own company, Abza Group Ltd, was set up in the UK under his direction, using a Dominican passport to get around the regulations. This company’s purpose is deceptively simple: It hides the money flowing from sources that are illegal, some of which are oil smuggled, and fraudulent investments.

However, it doesn’t end there. Key in moving illicit funds across borders, Setareh Heshmat has moved to Vancouver, Canada to pursue an MBA. Funds that are nothing short of laundered money pay for her university tuition, living expenses, and allowances. Setareh’s story demonstrates that crime syndicates use the cover of ordinary institutions to mask their criminal actions.

The Shell Companies: A Key Tool in the Money Laundering Arsenal

Shell companies like Abza Group Limited are the backbone of any large-scale money laundering operation. These companies are typically registered in jurisdictions with lax regulations, allowing criminals to hide their financial activities behind a veil of legality. In Setareh Heshmat’s case, several such companies have been established, primarily in the UK, but their operations stretch far beyond.

For example, London Surface Design Ltd. and London Heritage Stone Ltd. are two companies linked to Abbas and Setareh’s money laundering network. Ostensibly involved in the construction industry, these companies serve a far more sinister purpose. Through complex transactions, these shell companies are used to funnel money obtained from illegal oil sales, fraudulent investments, and various other criminal ventures.

A Glimpse into How Shell Companies Operate:

1. Funnel Funds: Money from illicit activities is funneled through multiple layers of transactions to obscure its origin.

2. Move across Borders: The money is then moved across international borders, using banking systems that are difficult for authorities to trace.

3. Wash and Distribute: Once the funds reach their destination, they are ‘cleaned’ by blending them with legitimate earnings, making them appear as though they come from legal sources.

Through these methods, the criminals involved can spend or invest their dirty money without raising suspicion. The true genius behind shell companies is their ability to create a fog of complexity that confuses investigators and allows the criminals to continue their operations unhindered.

The Smuggling of Oil: A Dangerous Game

But money laundering is not the only crime that Setareh Heshmat’s UK associates are involved in. Another, even more dangerous activity they are implicated in, is oil smuggling. The operation is led by Abbas and his father, Ali Sharif AlAskari, a key figure tied to Iran’s government and the Islamic Dawa Party in Iraq. The smuggling network is as sophisticated as it is dangerous, circumventing international sanctions and fueling conflicts worldwide.

The smuggling operation works as follows: oil is extracted from Iran’s vast reserves and transported to Bandar Abbas, a port city in southern Iran. From there, the oil is loaded onto vessels registered in Panama, which is one of the most commonly used methods to disguise the true origin of smuggled goods. Once the oil reaches Iraq, its origin is falsified through forged documentation, allowing the smuggled crude to be sold on the international market under the guise of being Iraqi oil.

This operation not only undermines international sanctions but also funds various shadowy activities, including terrorism and corruption. In fact, it is believed that some of the money generated from these smuggled oil transactions is used to finance terrorist activities across the Middle East. This operation has brought untold riches to those behind it, including Abbas and his associates.

Money Laundering for Terror: The Global Impact

The connection between money laundering and terrorism is well documented. As part of their network, Setareh Heshmat’s Israeli associates have been linked to the financing of Iranian drones used to attack Israel. These drones, which have been devastating to Israeli targets, are believed to have been equipped with artificial intelligence technology. The same technology that powers these drones is allegedly built by Abbas’s brother-in-law, a Canadian professor of AI and computer science, who has used Canadian resources to develop algorithms that help identify targets for the drones.

This revelation exposes the dangerous intersection between illicit finance, global conflicts, and terrorism. The funds generated from oil smuggling and money laundering are not just used to enrich individuals like Abbas Sherif AlAskari and Setareh Heshmat—they are funneled into terrorist organizations that destabilize entire regions.

Money Laundering: The Canadian Connection

Abbas Sherif AlAskari’s UK network also stretches to Canada, where his sister, Soraya, has played a crucial role in laundering money for the operation. Soraya, using her position in Canada, has moved large sums of money around the country, making use of her local connections to avoid detection. This further complicates the already intricate web of illicit activities, showing how deeply these criminal operations are entrenched in multiple countries and legal systems.

In Canada, Abbas’s name is linked to two major financial institutions, Monzo and Lloyds Bank, where he conducts some of his money laundering activities. The network of shell companies and illicit financial transactions provides a cover for his activities, enabling him to avoid detection while making substantial profits.

Setareh Heshmat’s name may be just the beginning of a much larger story—a story that exposes the dark underbelly of global crime and the need for more robust international efforts to combat it.

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