Al Qaeda Linked to Illegal Immigration
Charles Johnson
Sun Sep 7, 2003 at 9:54 am PDT • Views: 704
A new Italian intelligence report says that Al Qaeda and other terrorist jihad groups are trafficking in illegal immigration: Italy Study Sees Al Qaeda Link to Human Trafficking. (Hat tip: TS.)
An intelligence report released at the weekend says “terror networks” and groups who traffic in illegal immigrants share a natural overlap, often relying on false documents and intricate logistics, transport and communication setups.
“There is the fear, too, that the same routes used for illegal immigration are being used by militants to help form Islamic terrorist groups,” says the report, compiled by Cesis, which coordinates the work of Italy’s secret services.
The document comes just days before senior EU ministers are due to gather in Rome for an informal meeting to discuss immigration and terrorism-related issues.
Italy’s Interior minister, who held talks with U.S. Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge at the weekend, told reporters ahead of that meeting that he thought al Qaeda was increasingly involved in the multibillion dollar illegal immigration trade.
“Illegal immigration is a filter for drug trafficking, arms and terrorism,” Giuseppe Pisanu said on the sidelines of a gathering of business and political leaders in Italy.
Frank says: