Terrorist Financing: U.S. Agencies Should Systematically Assess Terrorists' Use of Alternative Financing Mechanisms;Report to the Congress

摘要

The Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia and the Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control asked us to assess (1) the nature of terrorists use of key alternative financing mechanisms for earning, moving, and storing terrorists assets; (2) what is known about the extent of terrorists use of alternative financing mechanisms; and (3) the challenges that the U.S. government faces in monitoring terrorists use of alternative financing mechanisms. To determine the nature of terrorists use of some key alternative financing mechanisms for earning, moving, and storing assets, we reviewed past GAO work, studies, analyses, and other documents prepared by experts from U.S. agencies, international organizations, and other groups. We also interviewed officials of the U.S. government, international entities, foreign governments, industry, and nonprofit groups, as well as representatives from academia and research institutions.