Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

Current Events and Musings => Political Forum => Topic started by: WhiskeyGirl on May 17, 2009, 08:47:13 PM



Title: Underground bankers? Drug smuggling? Money laundering?
Post by: WhiskeyGirl on May 17, 2009, 08:47:13 PM
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The 17 suspects now arrested are from Venezuela, Colombia, Lebanon and Cuba as well as Curacao. The organisation shipped containers with cocaine from Curacao to the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Jordan. From Venezuela, drugs containers went to West Africa and subsequently to the Netherlands, Lebanon and Spain. Couriers smuggled cocaine from Curacao and Aruba to the Netherlands as air passengers.

The suspects invested the drugs profits in property in Colombia, Venezuela, Lebanon, the Dominican Republic and in companies on Curacao. "Large sums of money from the drugs trade have become available in Lebanon via underground bankers. From Lebanon, orders are also placed for weapons, which had to be delivered by the drugs organisation from South America."

http://www.nisnews.nl/public/300409_2.htm (http://www.nisnews.nl/public/300409_2.htm)

What is an underground banker?  Is this part of the casino / drug / money laundering that has been linked to Aruba?  Is that why the casinos are so important to the island?

Is that why internet gambling with credit cards is being pushed in the U.S.?  The internet casinos are some kind of 'underground' banking system?  Money launderers?  With all the privacy and slippery slopes only the internet can provide?


Title: Re: Underground bankers? Drug smuggling? Money laundering?
Post by: WhiskeyGirl on May 19, 2009, 05:10:20 PM
What nations are other countries targeting?

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"It must no longer be possible for greedy companies and individuals to put themselves outside the international community and undermine the rules for global competiveness and the growth of welfare. Therefore the Nordic countries have taken the decision to continue the successful Nordic partnership to combat tax evasion.


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The agreement with the British Virgin Islands is the sixth of its kind. The Nordic countries have already entered into similar agreements with the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. Negotiations have reached an advanced stage with, amongst others, Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles.


http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=8560&lang=6 (http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=8560&lang=6)

Some of those island nations have lots of casinos and gambling.  What if those casinos are used as pass throughs to 'underground banks'?

Any requirement to require reporting casino patrons nationality?  Losses?  Wins?