I retired from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after a 28-year career.

My last position
was the Director of the Special Operations Division in the Washington, DC area. This operational
coordination center known as "SOD" had representatives from over 30 agencies to include 4
countries and the N.Y.P.D. We had the Counter Narco Terrorism Operation Center (CNTOC)
embedded in the operation and supported several terror finance investigations.

During the last few years of my career and since my retirement, I have been following the
disturbing trend of synthetic drugs (K2/Spice), EBT welfare fraud, illegal cigarette trafficking,
counterfeiting and drug paraphernalia sales around the USA. What I learned is a very disturbing
national security matter that needs way more engagement.

While I was at SOD, we worked on several nationwide enforcement operations targeting synthetic
drug, K2/ Spice, organizations. The most troubling thing I learned is many of the Middle
Eastern group's organizing the distribution of this poison all over the USA, that is killing kids and
destroying families, are sending millions back to the Middle East. I believe based on several factors
these businesses are directly supporting terrorism.

They are engaging in many crimes and we have seen cases all over America that have the same
patterns of activity. I believe these networks are taking advantage of the weak immigration laws
and are supporting terrorist groups like Hezbollah in our back yards under the radar.

The concept of engaging in criminal activity to fund terrorism is nothing new, but when it's all
over the country, it causes me serious concern. We know that terrorists are increasingly turning to
crime and criminal networks for funding.
As you can see in Operation Smoke Screen, a multi-agency case starting in 1997, they identified
the Hezbollah fundraising from the trafficking of cigarettes and the agents obtained terrorism
charges.

This is an Article written by Congressman Peter King in 2007 on monies going to the Middle East
to support Hezbollah, Hamas and al- Qaeda from the un-taxed cigarettes in New York City. We
have learned that businesses around the USA have organized this global fund-raising campaign
with the proceeds of crime. K2 and Spice is only one of the sources of revenue, but in my view, is
way larger than people know. This problem is getting worse as the organizations have included
more criminal activity and are making millions.
https://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/Cigarette_smuggling_042408.pdf
Many suspicious tobacco cases in US with questions about the money and or
related to terrorists?
Bodega owners in NYC selling drug paraphernalia to drug traffickers making lots of cash.

Cases revealed that US banks were reporting suspicious activity related to large cash
transactions.
Back around 2011, SOD focused on synthetic drug organizations during Operation Log Jam and
the efforts started to shine the light on this serious issue. The agencies focused on all these new
synthetic drugs coming to America from China (K2, Spice and bath salts). SOD helped coordinate
several multi agency arrests around America and then set up Project Synergy looking deeper at
these crime networks poisoning America.

Video media Footage from Project Synergy

https://youtu.be/8uGE6ywPjOE
After the takedown in Alabama, the District Attorney Brandon Falls made statements in the
media about the large amounts of money going to Yemen from the Alabama crime cell. The case
revealed that millions of dollars were leaving the Alabama and New York business bank
accounts to Yemen. The case also revealed a connection to Shaykh Abd-al-Majid AL-ZINDANI
from the subjects arrested in Alabama. Zindani is a documented global terrorist and had
connections to Usama Bin Laden in Afghanistan. Zindani was running a Jihadist university in
Yemen recruiting people to join the global campaign. He was also featured on 60 Minutes news
story.
https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/js1190.aspx
The citizens of America need to be very concerned about millions of dollars leaving businesses
in our country going back to Yemen and other countries in the Middle East. People like Zindani
and other radical terrorists need cash to help carry out their radical agendas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r87DRU4Rafc

CBS 60 Minutes on Zindani and Yemen

This was another press conference in New York City after the DEA, NYPD and others took
down a major synthetic drug network during Projects Synergy II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0I7ynqyc50
There was this a case from Texas where the subject was distributing 309 tons of synthetic
drugs.
This was another case in Texas that really was concerning and had very strong links to
radical terrorists. This kid Abdullah el-Hage, who DEA arrested, is the son of convicted Bin
Laden associate, Wadih-el Hage, who's serving a life sentence for the AQ 1998 East Africa
bombing terrorist attack.
As you can see above, the articles from Texas Monthly and Newsweek documented, "The
Terrorist next door" and "Married to Al Qaeda" in Newsweek.

More investigations with these Middle Eastern organizations in Denver, Colorado and
Tucson, Arizona.
 Major arrests also in Houston, Texas

Here is the story from Chicago that started with the rat poison being sold in the synthetic
drugs. The overdoses then spread to New York, DC, Connecticut and other states. People
were bleeding from their eyes and ears from the dangerous chemicals. Very alarming public
health matter in several cities consuming large resources.
Here are cases involving EBT fraud, Middle Eastern groups, criminal activity with money
going overseas.
This is another operation in North Carolina called Operation Southern Lights which
involved Middle Easterners engaging in Illegal cigarette trafficking.
This case in Michigan had very suspicious money transfers of $88 million going to Yemen.

Media reporting about the Hezbollah fundraising in Yemen.

Funds needed by Hezbollah to sustain global terror activities. Sanctions hurting Iran’s funding
streams.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TO YEMEN?

If you look at Facebook activity from reviewing some of the suspects arrested during Project
Synergy, it’s very disturbing what they are posting on their social media. As an investigator
for 30 years, this activity is very suspicious, graphic and needs way more investigative work.
We can’t have networks engaging in criminal business in America supporting radical
terrorists. This must be stopped.
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TO YEMEN?

Let’s not forget what happened on September 11, 2001, We also need to close the disturbing
growing gap between the complex threats to America and the ability to deal with these
threats.