SetarehHeshmat is the kind of individual who will not pop up in the media or newspapers for having achieved something great. However, she has gradually turned into such a mysterious woman whose actions affect political and business processes as well as criminality on a global level. SetarehHeshmat’sUK network’s foray of activities within the United Kingdom, and cross-border provide an insight into how different criminal organizations operate independently, yet, in tandem across the global frontier, organizing themselves into crime syndicate of oil smuggling, fake investment and money laundering.
How Oil Smuggling Becomes a Lucrative Operation

SetarehHeshmat’s UK network is a sophisticated oil smuggling operation, speara major port city in southern Iran that serves as a hub for illicit oil activities. Here’s how the process unfolds in detail:

1. The Smuggling Network
   Using vast fuel storage facilities in Bandar Abbas, crude oil is loaded onto Panamanian-registered vessels, ensuring anonymity and avoiding international scrutiny. These ships transport the oil to Iraq, where a crucial step takes place: falsifying the documentation. By altering the origin of the oil to appear Iraqi, SetarehHeshmat’s Israel network sidestep sanctions on Iranian crude.

2. Shell Companies: The Perfect Disguise
   SetarehHeshmat’s UK partners operate shell companies like London Surface Design Limited and London Heritage Stone Limited. Ostensibly construction and design firms, these entities funnel proceeds from the illegal oil trade into legitimate-looking businesses. This allows the group to obscure the source of their wealth while reinvesting dirty money into more ventures.

3. The Financial Trail
   Abbas Sharif AlAskari, SetarehHeshmat’s accomplice, plays a pivotal role in laundering money through UK bank accounts, including Monzo and Lloyds Bank. These accounts act as conduits for funds generated from oil sales, which are then further camouflaged through real estate investments and high-end purchases.

Fake Investment Schemes: The Bait and Switch

SetarehHeshmat’s Israel network doesn’t just smuggle oil; they also prey on investors with promises of high returns. The schemes typically revolve around industries like oil, gas, gold, cocoa, and real estate.

1. How It Works
   Abbas Sharif AlAskari, a central figure in SetarehHeshmat’s UK operations, lures investors by claiming access to exclusive opportunities. Investors are told their money is needed as an “advance” to bribe officials or secure permits. Once funds are transferred, Abbas disappears, leaving victims with nothing but empty promises.

2. Real-Life Impact
   Victims have lost millions to these schemes, believing their investments were legitimate. The money is then redirected into the criminal network’s laundering systems, feeding the cycle of corruption.

The Role of SetarehHeshmat: The Canadian Connection

Setareh’s migration to Vancouver, Canada, raised eyebrows among investigators. Officially, she is pursuing an MBA at the University Canada West, but her academic pursuits appear to be a cover for deeper involvement in the network.

1. Financing Her Lifestyle
   Every aspect of SetarehHeshmat’slavish lifestyle in Canada, from tuition fees to monthly allowances, is funded by Abbas’s laundered money. This arrangement allows her to stay under the radar while managing international operations.

2. Channels of Money Movement
   In Canada, SetarehHeshmatutilizes her connections to move money across borders. Techniques include:

   1. Wire Transfers: Sending funds in small increments to avoid detection.

   2. Cryptocurrency: Using unregulated exchanges to convert dirty money into Bitcoin or Ethereum.

   3. Prepaid Debit Cards: Distributing cash through cards that can be used globally without drawing attention.

How Shell Companies Operate

Shell companies are the backbone of this syndicate’s money-laundering schemes. Here’s a breakdown of their function:

1. Creation and Purpose
   Shell companies are established in jurisdictions with lax regulations, often using forged identities. These entities exist only on paper, with no real business operations, making them ideal for funneling illicit funds.

2. Layering Funds
   To avoid detection, money is transferred through multiple accounts and companies. For instance, funds from the oil trade might move from a Panamanian account to a UK-based shell company, then into a real estate venture.

3. Integration
   Once laundered, the money re-enters the economy as “clean” capital. This is done by purchasing assets like luxury properties, vehicles, or even funding political campaigns, further solidifying the network’s influence.

Money Laundering Tactics: A Playbook for Crime

The network is believed to employs a variety of laundering methods, including:

1. Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML)
   Using over- or under-invoicing in trade documents, the group manipulates the value of goods and services to move money. For example, a shipment of construction materials might be declared at twice its value, with the excess funds pocketed by the network.

2. Offshore Accounts
   Tax havens like the Cayman Islands or Panama house accounts that are nearly impossible to trace. These offshore accounts act as holding tanks for illicit funds.

3. Hawala Networks
   A centuries-old informal money transfer system, hawala allows funds to move without any physical or digital trail. This method is particularly effective in regions where banking oversight is limited.

The UK Nexus: Residency Fraud and Beyond

SetarehHeshmat’s UK network further expose the global reach of this criminal enterprise. Her brother-in-law, MeghdadTabrizian, is a linchpin in the UK, leveraging his connections to facilitate illegal residency for Abbas and others.

1. Fraudulent Residency:
   The Home Office has come under scrutiny for issuing residency permits to Abbas Sharif AlAskariand MeghdadTabrizan ( Brother-in-law) through questionable channels. Insiders have allegedly helped expedite the process, bypassing standard checks.

2. AI and Drones:
   AI professor in Canada ( Soraya’s Husband) , has been linked to developing drone-targeting technologies used by Iranian forces. Reports suggest laundered money funds these activities, further implicating the network in geopolitical conflicts.

A Family Affair: The Role of Abbas’s Siblings

SetarehHeshmatisn’t the only family member involved. Abbas’s sisters play key roles in different regions:

1. Soraya in Canada
   Soraya launders money through real estate ventures, using local connections to mask illicit activities.

2. Ali Sharif AlAskari’sUK Daughter in London
   Married to MeghdadTabrizian, she helps manage UK-based operations, from shell companies to investment scams.

The Bigger Picture: A Threat to Global Security

This network is not just about making money—it’s about consolidating power and destabilizing systems. By exploiting legal loopholes and international trade, SetarehHeshmatand her associates have created a self-sustaining empire of crime.

1. Impact on Economies

   1. Billions of dollars are siphoned from legitimate markets, affecting global trade.

   2. Fake investment schemes erode public trust in financial systems.

2. Geopolitical Ramifications
   The use of laundered money to fund drone technologies and proxy conflicts highlights the dangerous intersection of crime and politics.

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