MOSCOW – No longer able to fill its coffers via the illegal oil trade afterlosing control over hydrocarbon deposits in Syria and Iraq, Daesh(ISIL/ISIS) terrorists now are believed to be turning their attention tothe Internet in an attempt to supplement their income.
The military successes of the Syrian Arab Army and its Russian allies havemeant Daesh terrorists losing access to the rich oil and natural gasdeposits in the country, as well as being deprived of the abilityto transport hydrocarbons to prospective buyers, Russian envoy to the UNVasily Nebenzya said.
“By the end of 2017 the [terrorist] organization was earning no more than$2 million in oil and natural gas revenues, with Daesh’s gross incomein the Middle East decreasing to $3 million in total,” he declared.
In an attempt to turn things around, Daesh terrorists are lookinginto using “modern technologies” to raise more money for their nefariousactivities, Nebenzya added.
“For example, terrorists’ accomplices operating in one of the countriesbordering Syria steal people’s money using fake online shops. Daesh membersalso aren’t afraid of making money from Internet casinos,” the envoyexplained.
The diplomat revealed that Daesh’s ill-gotten gains often end up inaccounts at “reputable banking organizations in the Persian Gulf, Europe,Middle East and Central Asia”, adding that Russia recently providedinformation related to such activities to the Financial Action Task Force(on Money Laundering).
Also, Nebenzya remarked that the terrorist group makes attempts to investmoney “into legitimate business ventures abroad.”
“We believe that such instances should be thoroughly investigated by theauthorities of these countries,” Nebenzya surmised.
After apparently being on the verge of overrunning Syria and Iraq at onepoint, Daesh now controls only several small, isolated pockets, mostlyin eastern Syria, which are being constantly hammered by Syrian armedforces and its allies.