Experts: D.C. ‘fertile ground’ for financing of terrorism

Experts: D.C. ‘fertile ground’ for financing of terrorism

By Bill Myers
Examiner Staff Writer 3/3/09

MONEY TO MADMEN? Political flare-ups in the Middle East have inspired some in the Washington area to contribute to groups connected with international terrorism. AP
Dr. Nagaratnam Ranjithan has spent decades building a thriving medical practice in Maryland as a kidney specialist.

Federal authorities say he has also helped finance Asian death squads.

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of Ranjithan’s Tamil Foundation, alleging that the money he has raised for Sri Lanka has actually gone to help the Tamil Tigers, a group that the State Department says is a terrorist organization. The Tigers have been blamed for thousands of civilian deaths.

Ranjithan says his group is suffering from guilt by association.

“Even the federal government hasn’t accused me of directly supporting the Tigers,” Ranjithan said in an interview with The Examiner. “They say that because I work in the Tiger area, I support the Tigers.”

Case not isolated

Ranjithan’s case isn’t an isolated one in the Washington suburbs. D.C. officials are working hard to crack down on what they dub international terrorist financing.

They don’t have to look far, experts say. “It’s a very fertile ground for investigation,” said Joseph DiGenova, former U.S. attorney for the District. “There are plenty of opportunities.”

With its large diplomatic community, multinational character, vast network of nongovernmental and charitable groups and employees, and big-hearted, big-walleted residents, the D.C. area gives excellent cover, resources and opportunities for international terrorist fronts, some experts say.

“Washington fits the bill as a place where all kinds of information is exchanging hands. You have all sorts of nongovernmental organizations headquartered here ... and all sorts of international groups are chartered here,” said Gary LaFree, director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland.

Philanthropist imprisoned

The government’s crackdown on terror financing has shown Washingtonians a new side of their neighbors.

There was Falls Church Muslim philanthropist Aldurahman M. Alamoudi, who in 2004 went to prison for funneling money through the Libyan dictatorship so the Libyans could in turn assassinate one of Saudi Arabia’s royals.

An Oxon Hill cul-de-sac called Barnaby Knolls was built with a $1 million investment from Hamas. Investigators called the neighborhood “Hamas Heights.”

Saubhe Jassim Al-Dellemy, owner of a Laurel shish kebab shop, went to prison last year for spying for Saddam Hussein.

There were the 39 people indicted from the United States, Canada, Spain and Belgium on charges of using two Snow Hill, Md., convenience stores to launder more than $5.1 million through the hawala — the Islamic money-remittance system. Some of the defendants were charged with trying to bribe local immigration officials to obtain visas for their friends.

Sept. 11 attacks cost $400K

In terrorism, every dollar counts, Maryland’s LaFree said. The Sept. 11 attacks were a massive operation by terror standards. They cost about $400,000.

“Can you imagine trying to trace that finite amount of money?” he asked.

Previous run-in with feds

This is the second time Ranjithan has collided with the government over his Sri Lankan work. Two years ago, the Treasury Department froze the assets of another relief group he headed.

With his two charities now shuttered, there is no way to help people trapped in the Tamil war zone, Ranjithan said.

“Everybody is so focused on this Tamil Tiger business,” Ranjithan said. “Nobody is focused on the plight of the civilians in Sri Lanka.”