1 00:00:15,607 --> 00:00:16,127 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:18,607 --> 00:00:20,727 Speaker 2: If you're enjoying this podcast and you want to hear 3 00:00:20,767 --> 00:00:23,327 Speaker 2: more from the Ft, the Ft Edit app gives you 4 00:00:23,367 --> 00:00:26,247 Speaker 2: eight of the Financial Times is best stories, hand picked 5 00:00:26,327 --> 00:00:29,047 Speaker 2: daily by our editors. You'll get the perfect daily dose 6 00:00:29,047 --> 00:00:34,127 Speaker 2: of expert opinion, surprising stories and fresh perspectives from across politics, culture, 7 00:00:34,407 --> 00:00:37,607 Speaker 2: business and more. Start your free one month trial today, 8 00:00:37,767 --> 00:00:40,127 Speaker 2: then get your first six months for just ninety nine 9 00:00:40,167 --> 00:00:43,727 Speaker 2: p per month. Currently only available on iOS. There's a 10 00:00:43,767 --> 00:00:49,287 Speaker 2: link in the show notes. Previously on Hot Money, in 11 00:00:49,327 --> 00:00:52,727 Speaker 2: the Netherlands, the government expelled two Iranian diplomats because of 12 00:00:52,767 --> 00:00:56,847 Speaker 2: an assassination connected to the Supercartel, while high tech police 13 00:00:57,087 --> 00:01:01,207 Speaker 2: hacked into the secret world of organized crime. This time, 14 00:01:01,407 --> 00:01:04,167 Speaker 2: we're in New York, so we picked. 15 00:01:03,967 --> 00:01:06,487 Speaker 3: It up in a high end vehicle. We were driven 16 00:01:06,527 --> 00:01:11,247 Speaker 3: to somewhere in Brooklyn, stopped buy a small restaurant. It 17 00:01:11,287 --> 00:01:12,527 Speaker 3: was nice and simple. 18 00:01:13,367 --> 00:01:17,047 Speaker 2: Angel's an international businessman. He arranges deals worth hundreds of 19 00:01:17,047 --> 00:01:19,567 Speaker 2: millions of dollars in his black book, has contacts from 20 00:01:19,607 --> 00:01:20,447 Speaker 2: all around the world. 21 00:01:21,047 --> 00:01:22,247 Speaker 1: He's telling me about a meeting. 22 00:01:22,607 --> 00:01:25,007 Speaker 2: It took place in New York in October twenty fourteen, 23 00:01:25,447 --> 00:01:28,367 Speaker 2: one day around lunchtime. Angel drives over to the Waldorf 24 00:01:28,367 --> 00:01:31,287 Speaker 2: Astoria in Manhattan. He picks up a woman who's flown 25 00:01:31,327 --> 00:01:34,487 Speaker 2: in from abroad. She gets inside Angel's luxury car and 26 00:01:34,527 --> 00:01:35,687 Speaker 2: they start talking deals. 27 00:01:36,287 --> 00:01:39,887 Speaker 3: I remember she just was she got comfortable, she opened up. 28 00:01:41,007 --> 00:01:43,847 Speaker 2: There's something you need to know about Angel. He isn't 29 00:01:43,847 --> 00:01:45,687 Speaker 2: your average international businessman. 30 00:01:46,927 --> 00:01:50,247 Speaker 3: She already knew. We were high leveled blog classickers, probably 31 00:01:50,327 --> 00:01:54,127 Speaker 3: multi tan. We were blog clasfickers from South America looking 32 00:01:54,167 --> 00:01:54,607 Speaker 3: to London. 33 00:01:54,607 --> 00:01:58,927 Speaker 2: The money and the woman, she's a professional money launderer. 34 00:01:59,367 --> 00:02:01,927 Speaker 2: Angel's been working with her for a while, figuring out 35 00:02:01,967 --> 00:02:05,487 Speaker 2: ways to clean his cocaine money through various banks, all 36 00:02:05,527 --> 00:02:08,967 Speaker 2: of course for a fee. When they arrived at the 37 00:02:08,967 --> 00:02:11,887 Speaker 2: Brooks and Diner, they order some food and as they're 38 00:02:11,887 --> 00:02:14,567 Speaker 2: sitting at the table, she takes out her phone and 39 00:02:14,607 --> 00:02:17,367 Speaker 2: removes the battery. It's the sort of thing that someone 40 00:02:17,407 --> 00:02:20,567 Speaker 2: does in a spy show to avoid being tracked or recorded. 41 00:02:21,247 --> 00:02:24,687 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's very common. Actually, we've seen that plenty of times. Yeah, 42 00:02:24,767 --> 00:02:26,607 Speaker 3: she was very security conscious. 43 00:02:27,327 --> 00:02:30,207 Speaker 2: They talked for a while about money and drugs, and 44 00:02:30,247 --> 00:02:32,607 Speaker 2: then the woman tells Angel she wants to talk about 45 00:02:32,647 --> 00:02:37,247 Speaker 2: something else today. She's looking to buy something high end 46 00:02:37,287 --> 00:02:40,287 Speaker 2: military equipment, tons of it. 47 00:02:40,287 --> 00:02:41,767 Speaker 1: It's a serious shopping list. 48 00:02:42,327 --> 00:02:46,567 Speaker 2: She wants rocket propelled grenades and sniper rifles and automatic weapons. 49 00:02:47,407 --> 00:02:50,767 Speaker 2: Angel well, he's clearly a well connected guy, and she's 50 00:02:50,847 --> 00:02:53,487 Speaker 2: wondering perhaps he knows someone who can help her out. 51 00:02:54,407 --> 00:02:56,087 Speaker 2: Luckily for her, he does. 52 00:02:57,167 --> 00:02:58,767 Speaker 3: So. You know, at that time, we had connections to 53 00:02:58,767 --> 00:03:02,687 Speaker 3: South America, so we offer that we offer them weapons 54 00:03:02,727 --> 00:03:04,967 Speaker 3: and any double weapon we could get from the military 55 00:03:05,007 --> 00:03:07,607 Speaker 3: in South America. If you're looking for Russian weapons and 56 00:03:07,607 --> 00:03:10,367 Speaker 3: stuff like that, you've got Venezuela. You look for American workers, 57 00:03:10,407 --> 00:03:13,247 Speaker 3: you got to Columbia. So we have that background, which 58 00:03:13,247 --> 00:03:14,207 Speaker 3: I think helped us a lot. 59 00:03:15,327 --> 00:03:18,007 Speaker 2: Laundering drug money is one thing, but it's quite another 60 00:03:18,127 --> 00:03:21,127 Speaker 2: to just jump into an international arms deal. The Angel 61 00:03:21,167 --> 00:03:25,007 Speaker 2: doesn't miss a beat. He just smiles because Angel isn't 62 00:03:25,007 --> 00:03:28,927 Speaker 2: a drug trafficker. He's an undercover agent working for the DEA. 63 00:03:29,407 --> 00:03:33,127 Speaker 2: He's wearing a wire recording everything. And this woman at 64 00:03:33,167 --> 00:03:36,127 Speaker 2: the Brooklyn Diner, she's about to tell him who her 65 00:03:36,247 --> 00:03:39,727 Speaker 2: client is, and it will transform our understanding of how 66 00:03:39,767 --> 00:03:47,967 Speaker 2: the European drug trade really works. I'm Myles Johnson and 67 00:03:48,007 --> 00:03:51,207 Speaker 2: from the Financial Times and Pushkin industries. This is Hot 68 00:03:51,247 --> 00:03:57,767 Speaker 2: Money season two the New Narcos episode six Ties with Tehran. 69 00:04:18,247 --> 00:04:22,287 Speaker 4: Angel got transferred into the group and almost immediately became 70 00:04:22,327 --> 00:04:23,807 Speaker 4: a very productive part of the group. 71 00:04:24,807 --> 00:04:28,167 Speaker 5: I said almost, and to be more candid on that, 72 00:04:28,247 --> 00:04:31,687 Speaker 5: I think no, no no. 73 00:04:32,207 --> 00:04:36,807 Speaker 3: I was having issues with other groups the group I 74 00:04:36,847 --> 00:04:38,927 Speaker 3: was in. I felt that they weren't aggressive enough. 75 00:04:39,247 --> 00:04:42,767 Speaker 4: I just took to him because I immediately respected his 76 00:04:42,927 --> 00:04:46,727 Speaker 4: work ethic. We shared an outlook, uh on how to 77 00:04:46,847 --> 00:04:47,727 Speaker 4: go after our job. 78 00:04:49,487 --> 00:04:52,247 Speaker 2: Setting up an interview with a former undercovered drug agent 79 00:04:52,527 --> 00:04:55,687 Speaker 2: isn't that straightforward. It takes a lot of planning and 80 00:04:55,847 --> 00:05:00,327 Speaker 2: some convincing, a little bit of cajoling. Of course, Angel 81 00:05:00,407 --> 00:05:04,127 Speaker 2: isn't his real name. During his career, he's infiltrated some 82 00:05:04,127 --> 00:05:06,727 Speaker 2: of the most dangerous organized crime groups in the world 83 00:05:07,447 --> 00:05:10,247 Speaker 2: from former undercover agents. We have to be very careful 84 00:05:10,247 --> 00:05:15,247 Speaker 2: about who they speak with because criminals, especially murderous cartel bosses, 85 00:05:15,647 --> 00:05:18,887 Speaker 2: they can have long memories. But after quite a few 86 00:05:18,887 --> 00:05:21,687 Speaker 2: phone calls, Angel agreed to talk to me on tape. 87 00:05:22,127 --> 00:05:27,127 Speaker 2: Alongside him is his longtime DEA colleague John Post. Like Angel, 88 00:05:27,327 --> 00:05:30,967 Speaker 2: John worked in the Drug Enforcement Administration the DEA for decades. 89 00:05:31,487 --> 00:05:32,327 Speaker 1: And he's seen it all. 90 00:05:33,447 --> 00:05:36,527 Speaker 4: We noticed that all the all of your European traffickers 91 00:05:36,567 --> 00:05:41,567 Speaker 4: like to go hang out in a place called Marbella, Spain. Marbello, Marbella, Marbella, 92 00:05:42,047 --> 00:05:46,167 Speaker 4: it's the haven of you. Tell me, Miles, have you 93 00:05:46,167 --> 00:05:46,727 Speaker 4: ever been there? 94 00:05:48,927 --> 00:05:51,207 Speaker 2: I actually lived in Spain for four years. I was 95 00:05:51,247 --> 00:05:53,607 Speaker 2: reporting there for the Ft and it turns out I 96 00:05:53,647 --> 00:05:55,927 Speaker 2: was there at the exact same time as the Kinnahans 97 00:05:55,967 --> 00:05:58,167 Speaker 2: who were in Marbella, although I hadn't heard of them 98 00:05:58,207 --> 00:06:01,007 Speaker 2: back then. Anyway, I wanted to talk to Angel and 99 00:06:01,087 --> 00:06:03,207 Speaker 2: John because I think they can help us figure out 100 00:06:03,247 --> 00:06:07,207 Speaker 2: the connection between two things I've learned during my reporting. First, 101 00:06:07,447 --> 00:06:10,927 Speaker 2: we know the Iranian regime order the assassination of Alimtomed 102 00:06:10,967 --> 00:06:14,487 Speaker 2: in the Netherlands in twenty fifteen, and second, the man 103 00:06:14,527 --> 00:06:17,087 Speaker 2: who arranged the murder. He was found in a flat 104 00:06:17,247 --> 00:06:20,367 Speaker 2: belonging to the Kinnahans, the Irish family at the center 105 00:06:20,447 --> 00:06:24,407 Speaker 2: of the Dubai supercartel. John and Angel now work with 106 00:06:24,407 --> 00:06:28,607 Speaker 2: a private security company called Albatross Consultants, but they used 107 00:06:28,607 --> 00:06:30,967 Speaker 2: to work out of a dea Field office in Newark, 108 00:06:31,007 --> 00:06:34,927 Speaker 2: New Jersey, until twenty eighteen. John was in charge of 109 00:06:34,967 --> 00:06:39,527 Speaker 2: complex investigations into the nastiest international criminals you can imagine. 110 00:06:40,207 --> 00:06:42,247 Speaker 2: And Angel was the guy who was sent in undercover 111 00:06:42,567 --> 00:06:45,887 Speaker 2: to infiltrate these groups and win the confidence of notorious 112 00:06:45,887 --> 00:06:49,007 Speaker 2: gangsters and then gather the evidence needed to take them down. 113 00:06:49,567 --> 00:06:51,047 Speaker 2: He retired a few months ago. 114 00:06:51,607 --> 00:06:53,367 Speaker 3: For some reason. Ever since I was a kid and 115 00:06:53,407 --> 00:06:56,567 Speaker 3: I was going to be a D agent. I don't 116 00:06:56,567 --> 00:06:58,487 Speaker 3: really know why. I think I must have seen it 117 00:06:58,567 --> 00:07:00,127 Speaker 3: in the movies or something. I was in junior high 118 00:07:00,127 --> 00:07:02,127 Speaker 3: school and I remember actually telling a friend of mine 119 00:07:02,847 --> 00:07:04,287 Speaker 3: that I was going to be a D agent. 120 00:07:05,447 --> 00:07:07,727 Speaker 2: Once he gets the job, it's not long before Angel 121 00:07:07,727 --> 00:07:10,767 Speaker 2: goes under cover, quickly learns the tools of the trade, 122 00:07:11,167 --> 00:07:14,087 Speaker 2: how to talk, how to dress, how to walk. 123 00:07:14,767 --> 00:07:16,567 Speaker 3: One of the things that I learned was actually watching 124 00:07:16,567 --> 00:07:19,767 Speaker 3: people on the street or people in that environment. Right, 125 00:07:19,807 --> 00:07:22,087 Speaker 3: if you go into a corporate world, you canno dress 126 00:07:22,087 --> 00:07:23,847 Speaker 3: like a schmock. Right, if you're going to be on 127 00:07:23,887 --> 00:07:25,567 Speaker 3: the street, you can all show up with a clippy suit. 128 00:07:26,007 --> 00:07:28,767 Speaker 3: It's common sense, right, So you have to know where 129 00:07:28,767 --> 00:07:31,407 Speaker 3: you're going into and try to fit the part number one. 130 00:07:31,687 --> 00:07:34,167 Speaker 3: Number two. The other important thing, obviously is that your 131 00:07:34,167 --> 00:07:37,647 Speaker 3: safety and in worst case scenarios in case something happens, 132 00:07:37,687 --> 00:07:41,647 Speaker 3: because it's up you have to have a plan to 133 00:07:41,727 --> 00:07:45,127 Speaker 3: survive the situation. The rest is just you being charming, 134 00:07:45,207 --> 00:07:46,207 Speaker 3: using your personality. 135 00:07:47,047 --> 00:07:49,887 Speaker 2: And in those early days he hones his craft. He 136 00:07:49,927 --> 00:07:53,247 Speaker 2: spends hours listening to the tapes of previous operations. 137 00:07:53,607 --> 00:07:55,927 Speaker 3: I've made mistakes in the past where I listened to 138 00:07:55,967 --> 00:07:58,727 Speaker 3: recordings of what I was doing, and I just rolled 139 00:07:58,767 --> 00:08:00,807 Speaker 3: my eyes up myself, and I think I learned a 140 00:08:00,807 --> 00:08:01,447 Speaker 3: lot from it. 141 00:08:01,967 --> 00:08:05,967 Speaker 2: I think gets good, very good. Angel becomes a critical 142 00:08:06,007 --> 00:08:08,567 Speaker 2: part of how John's unit works the major criminal cases. 143 00:08:10,127 --> 00:08:12,727 Speaker 2: John starts up in operation by targeting someone in the 144 00:08:12,727 --> 00:08:15,767 Speaker 2: middle of the hierarchy of a top crime group. He 145 00:08:15,807 --> 00:08:18,087 Speaker 2: figures out exactly where to begin by talking to his 146 00:08:18,167 --> 00:08:21,807 Speaker 2: network of sources, their informants he's developed over the years. 147 00:08:22,607 --> 00:08:25,567 Speaker 2: The first target needs to be big enough and scary 148 00:08:25,647 --> 00:08:27,407 Speaker 2: enough to be moving in the right circles. 149 00:08:28,127 --> 00:08:31,167 Speaker 4: If you're dealing with some dude that's the best dope 150 00:08:31,207 --> 00:08:33,247 Speaker 4: Daily ever did in his life was a key lower coke. 151 00:08:33,887 --> 00:08:35,247 Speaker 4: You're not going to be able to do a thousand 152 00:08:35,327 --> 00:08:37,847 Speaker 4: keylock case with him. You'll be able to do maybe 153 00:08:37,847 --> 00:08:41,967 Speaker 4: a five keylock case. And that's stretching it. But as 154 00:08:42,007 --> 00:08:46,447 Speaker 4: you move up the ladder with higher level targets, you 155 00:08:46,487 --> 00:08:50,287 Speaker 4: get higher level informants, and your higher level informants get 156 00:08:50,327 --> 00:08:56,407 Speaker 4: you into the top level of the sophisticated organizations. I'm 157 00:08:56,407 --> 00:09:02,487 Speaker 4: talking high credential, confidential sources who go way back into 158 00:09:02,567 --> 00:09:07,367 Speaker 4: drug world and their credibility has been well established. So 159 00:09:08,567 --> 00:09:11,567 Speaker 4: when that person and walks through the door with Angel, 160 00:09:11,967 --> 00:09:12,927 Speaker 4: that's half of the job. 161 00:09:13,767 --> 00:09:16,247 Speaker 2: Once Angel's been introduced, he has to do more than 162 00:09:16,287 --> 00:09:18,927 Speaker 2: just look the part. He has to withstand and he 163 00:09:19,007 --> 00:09:21,887 Speaker 2: tests to challenge his credibility as a serious criminal. 164 00:09:22,487 --> 00:09:24,607 Speaker 3: You want to see the cocaine, I'll show you the cocaine. 165 00:09:24,607 --> 00:09:26,247 Speaker 3: If you want to go see the laboratories, I'll show 166 00:09:26,287 --> 00:09:29,127 Speaker 3: you the laboratories. It can be worked out, and. 167 00:09:29,087 --> 00:09:31,567 Speaker 2: At the same time, Angel needs to gather the evidence 168 00:09:31,607 --> 00:09:34,407 Speaker 2: that's needed to build a case. It's the critical skill 169 00:09:34,447 --> 00:09:35,567 Speaker 2: for any undercover agent. 170 00:09:36,207 --> 00:09:40,407 Speaker 3: Every law has different prongs that need to be met 171 00:09:40,527 --> 00:09:42,967 Speaker 3: for the person to be convicted of it. Did he 172 00:09:43,047 --> 00:09:45,207 Speaker 3: have knowledge, did he know it was dlug money? Whatever 173 00:09:45,207 --> 00:09:47,727 Speaker 3: it may be as an undercovery, if you have a 174 00:09:47,727 --> 00:09:51,167 Speaker 3: good relationship with the prosecutor, I know exactly what prongs 175 00:09:51,207 --> 00:09:53,767 Speaker 3: he needs to have met so he can feel comfortable 176 00:09:53,807 --> 00:09:57,127 Speaker 3: making a charge, so you can be glamorous about it 177 00:09:57,127 --> 00:09:59,407 Speaker 3: and spend your time wasting your time. Really, you know, 178 00:09:59,487 --> 00:10:02,687 Speaker 3: you're just shooting the shit with the guy right, clinking 179 00:10:02,807 --> 00:10:06,287 Speaker 3: or whatever you're doing, but you're not addressing those prongs. 180 00:10:07,047 --> 00:10:10,087 Speaker 2: Finally, that's the sting. And when on sens angel In, 181 00:10:10,327 --> 00:10:12,407 Speaker 2: he's always close by with the backup team. 182 00:10:13,207 --> 00:10:17,247 Speaker 4: He's always got a danger signal or you know, a 183 00:10:17,287 --> 00:10:20,127 Speaker 4: way to let us know if something's going bad and 184 00:10:21,167 --> 00:10:26,007 Speaker 4: we're ready to react. And I have been in situations where, yeah, 185 00:10:26,047 --> 00:10:28,967 Speaker 4: that signals giving. And the one particular what I'm talking 186 00:10:28,967 --> 00:10:33,727 Speaker 4: about was an undercover in the project's in a very 187 00:10:33,927 --> 00:10:37,727 Speaker 4: tough area and they actually said, don't kill me. I 188 00:10:37,727 --> 00:10:40,727 Speaker 4: have kids, And that wasn't the danger signal. That was 189 00:10:41,207 --> 00:10:43,127 Speaker 4: that was letting us know that there was a gun 190 00:10:43,167 --> 00:10:45,727 Speaker 4: on them, and like we're within seconds. 191 00:10:45,727 --> 00:10:47,207 Speaker 5: We were there and he. 192 00:10:47,207 --> 00:10:48,887 Speaker 4: Had a gun point that I'm in the car, and 193 00:10:49,847 --> 00:10:52,567 Speaker 4: we were able to extract him. The bad guy target 194 00:10:52,647 --> 00:10:56,207 Speaker 4: dropped the weapon when he saw four cars converge on him. 195 00:10:56,927 --> 00:11:00,807 Speaker 4: But you know, like I said, everything else stops when 196 00:11:00,807 --> 00:11:04,287 Speaker 4: there's a risk to the undercover and boom. The priority 197 00:11:04,327 --> 00:11:07,767 Speaker 4: is getting the safety the undercover, getting him out of there, 198 00:11:07,807 --> 00:11:10,207 Speaker 4: and you know, make it your rest. 199 00:11:10,807 --> 00:11:14,847 Speaker 3: I mean, there's situations where I've been in basements in retrospect. 200 00:11:14,847 --> 00:11:18,207 Speaker 3: It was so stupid, you know, meeting some guys from 201 00:11:18,287 --> 00:11:22,647 Speaker 3: Yemen and the basement is dark, there's nobody there. I know, 202 00:11:23,007 --> 00:11:25,207 Speaker 3: if I was wearing a transmitter, no one could hear 203 00:11:25,247 --> 00:11:27,527 Speaker 3: me because I'm deep in a basement, you know, and 204 00:11:27,847 --> 00:11:31,367 Speaker 3: I'm like Jesus, I could easily get chopped up. Yeah, 205 00:11:31,367 --> 00:11:36,007 Speaker 3: it was in Brooklyn, you know, in retrospect. Right, So 206 00:11:36,407 --> 00:11:40,447 Speaker 3: it's an undercover assignment worth that risk, right for that prosecution. 207 00:11:40,967 --> 00:11:43,207 Speaker 3: What's the case that important that you're putting your life 208 00:11:43,207 --> 00:11:46,327 Speaker 3: on the line. John has had a lot of background 209 00:11:46,367 --> 00:11:51,047 Speaker 3: Mexican cartels and Columbian wald clafficers, and some of them 210 00:11:51,047 --> 00:11:53,007 Speaker 3: are killers. Once they get to know, they love us. 211 00:11:53,247 --> 00:11:56,247 Speaker 3: But but the killers, you know, we joke about it. 212 00:11:56,527 --> 00:12:00,527 Speaker 3: Such a great guy, Well he's a killer, but that 213 00:12:00,607 --> 00:12:01,527 Speaker 3: happens quite often. 214 00:12:02,487 --> 00:12:05,407 Speaker 2: Over the years, John and Angel forge a formidable partnership 215 00:12:05,607 --> 00:12:09,927 Speaker 2: working around the world targeting top gangsters that becomes one 216 00:12:09,967 --> 00:12:12,127 Speaker 2: of the most decorated in the whole of the DEA 217 00:12:12,287 --> 00:12:15,327 Speaker 2: for bringing in a slew of major cases. Angel even 218 00:12:15,367 --> 00:12:17,607 Speaker 2: wins DA National Agent of the Year. 219 00:12:19,607 --> 00:12:20,167 Speaker 1: One time. 220 00:12:20,327 --> 00:12:22,367 Speaker 2: In two thousand and eight, they get a tip out 221 00:12:22,367 --> 00:12:25,047 Speaker 2: of Panama that an Irish gang is looking to source 222 00:12:25,087 --> 00:12:26,727 Speaker 2: a huge shipment of cocaine. 223 00:12:27,327 --> 00:12:30,127 Speaker 4: So hey, these guys want what three thousand kilos I 224 00:12:30,127 --> 00:12:33,127 Speaker 4: think it was three thousand kilos man, you know, and like, okay, 225 00:12:33,287 --> 00:12:35,887 Speaker 4: let's call them, meet them, well them, send them down. 226 00:12:37,167 --> 00:12:40,447 Speaker 4: What they were asking for was one hundred percent out 227 00:12:40,527 --> 00:12:44,807 Speaker 4: of money, three thousand kilo load and they were asking 228 00:12:44,887 --> 00:12:45,767 Speaker 4: us to transport it. 229 00:12:46,687 --> 00:12:51,127 Speaker 2: That's three thousand kilos three tons paid for entirely in cash. 230 00:12:51,767 --> 00:12:55,247 Speaker 2: At street value, that quantity itself one hundreds of millions 231 00:12:55,287 --> 00:12:55,847 Speaker 2: of euros. 232 00:12:56,567 --> 00:12:59,687 Speaker 4: Based on the intel we developed later, we're pretty sure 233 00:12:59,687 --> 00:13:03,007 Speaker 4: it was the Kennehans that we were introduced through. 234 00:13:03,327 --> 00:13:05,487 Speaker 5: And they weren't blowing smoke. They were for real. 235 00:13:05,767 --> 00:13:07,407 Speaker 3: Yeah, they don't heavy hit us. 236 00:13:07,647 --> 00:13:10,607 Speaker 2: This two thousand and eight running with the Hands in Panama. 237 00:13:10,767 --> 00:13:13,367 Speaker 2: It happened back when Christie was living in mar Baya, 238 00:13:13,567 --> 00:13:15,207 Speaker 2: two years before Operation Shovel. 239 00:13:15,887 --> 00:13:16,647 Speaker 1: It's never been. 240 00:13:16,527 --> 00:13:19,767 Speaker 2: Reported before, and it just confirms to me how big 241 00:13:19,807 --> 00:13:21,207 Speaker 2: they were even back then. 242 00:13:21,527 --> 00:13:23,647 Speaker 5: Yeah, but they slipt through our fingers. We didn't get them, Yeah, 243 00:13:23,767 --> 00:13:24,367 Speaker 5: to get away. 244 00:13:25,207 --> 00:13:25,967 Speaker 1: We might come back. 245 00:13:26,967 --> 00:13:29,847 Speaker 5: Now you tell us they're in Dubai. Huh. 246 00:13:30,167 --> 00:13:31,687 Speaker 2: But I want to tell you about another one of 247 00:13:31,767 --> 00:13:34,647 Speaker 2: John and Angel's sting operations. It's one that sheds a 248 00:13:34,647 --> 00:13:37,967 Speaker 2: whole new light on the booming European cocaine trade. A 249 00:13:38,087 --> 00:13:41,127 Speaker 2: story that took place in twenty fourteen when they were 250 00:13:41,127 --> 00:13:44,167 Speaker 2: with that money launderer in a small Brooklyn restaurant and 251 00:13:44,287 --> 00:13:46,087 Speaker 2: things took an unexpected turn. 252 00:14:02,447 --> 00:14:04,647 Speaker 3: Now, when we do a money laundering case, it just 253 00:14:04,847 --> 00:14:07,607 Speaker 3: splits in different ways, like the trunk of a tree. Really, 254 00:14:08,087 --> 00:14:10,327 Speaker 3: you could take one branch you have Mondey laundering, you'd 255 00:14:10,367 --> 00:14:14,367 Speaker 3: take another branch blog grafficking, weapons trafficking. There's always other 256 00:14:14,447 --> 00:14:19,367 Speaker 3: criminal activity associated with that one crime. So this split 257 00:14:19,447 --> 00:14:24,447 Speaker 3: into the Kobaesi case. By chances, happened to be coming 258 00:14:24,447 --> 00:14:25,487 Speaker 3: to New York at the time. 259 00:14:27,167 --> 00:14:28,207 Speaker 1: The Kobazi case. 260 00:14:28,887 --> 00:14:32,167 Speaker 2: It's October twenty fourteen, and John and angel A deep 261 00:14:32,167 --> 00:14:36,767 Speaker 2: into a multi country investigation. It started in the Dominican Republic, 262 00:14:36,927 --> 00:14:39,047 Speaker 2: where they busted a gang trying to ship a thousand 263 00:14:39,127 --> 00:14:42,807 Speaker 2: kilos of cocaine into Belgium on a private plane, and 264 00:14:42,847 --> 00:14:45,727 Speaker 2: after following the leads from that case, a new targets 265 00:14:45,727 --> 00:14:49,007 Speaker 2: come into view. Her name's i Man Kabazi and she's 266 00:14:49,007 --> 00:14:52,047 Speaker 2: a Lebanese woman in her late forties. She has dark 267 00:14:52,087 --> 00:14:55,767 Speaker 2: black hair, she wears expensive clothes and she's a professional 268 00:14:55,807 --> 00:14:59,607 Speaker 2: money launderer who works with cocaine traffickers in Europe. Angel, 269 00:14:59,887 --> 00:15:03,047 Speaker 2: working under cover, has been cultivating her for months. 270 00:15:03,807 --> 00:15:06,887 Speaker 3: Well, we got into a source. We have eventually met her. 271 00:15:07,607 --> 00:15:11,407 Speaker 3: Through sources, we were able to have a meeting with her. 272 00:15:12,967 --> 00:15:17,287 Speaker 3: During the meeting, we stock up a great relationship. Myself 273 00:15:17,327 --> 00:15:21,927 Speaker 3: and another person went out to dinner, lunch. We met 274 00:15:21,927 --> 00:15:25,047 Speaker 3: in different countries. We developed the personal relationship. 275 00:15:25,047 --> 00:15:28,007 Speaker 2: As some went on, Angel gets close enough to Kebasi 276 00:15:28,207 --> 00:15:31,887 Speaker 2: to feel comfortable planning a sting. The first thing is 277 00:15:31,887 --> 00:15:35,047 Speaker 2: to set up a meeting. One of the DA's informants 278 00:15:35,127 --> 00:15:37,727 Speaker 2: tells her that they're expecting a large cocaine shipment to 279 00:15:37,727 --> 00:15:40,207 Speaker 2: come through Belgium and want to discuss how to launder 280 00:15:40,247 --> 00:15:41,047 Speaker 2: the proceeds. 281 00:15:41,367 --> 00:15:42,847 Speaker 1: And that's no problem for Kebaesi. 282 00:15:43,287 --> 00:15:45,767 Speaker 2: She's able to move large amounts of cash anywhere in 283 00:15:45,767 --> 00:15:47,727 Speaker 2: the world for a fee of twenty percent. 284 00:15:48,567 --> 00:15:49,967 Speaker 1: Kabazi travels to New York. 285 00:15:50,207 --> 00:15:53,087 Speaker 2: She's staying at a fancy hotel, the Waldorf Astoria on 286 00:15:53,167 --> 00:15:56,567 Speaker 2: Park Avenue. Angel fixes up a lunch meeting so they 287 00:15:56,607 --> 00:15:57,927 Speaker 2: can discuss business. 288 00:15:58,287 --> 00:15:59,967 Speaker 3: So we picked her up in a high end vehicle. 289 00:16:00,527 --> 00:16:04,607 Speaker 3: We were driven to somewhere in Brooklyn. We stopped buy 290 00:16:04,687 --> 00:16:05,807 Speaker 3: a small restaurant. 291 00:16:06,567 --> 00:16:09,727 Speaker 2: Angel knows John is nearby, listening to the y and 292 00:16:09,807 --> 00:16:11,727 Speaker 2: ready to jump in if anything gets out of hand. 293 00:16:12,207 --> 00:16:13,367 Speaker 5: You're not picking up everything. 294 00:16:13,527 --> 00:16:16,327 Speaker 4: Just to be honest with you, it's it's grainy, there's 295 00:16:16,367 --> 00:16:19,287 Speaker 4: background noise. He's in a restaurund. You know you're listening 296 00:16:19,327 --> 00:16:21,847 Speaker 4: for key safety elements. 297 00:16:21,807 --> 00:16:22,567 Speaker 1: At the table. 298 00:16:22,927 --> 00:16:27,287 Speaker 2: It's clear to Angel the Kobazi's serious player. She says, 299 00:16:27,447 --> 00:16:30,567 Speaker 2: if he wants, she can arrange for planes containing multi 300 00:16:30,567 --> 00:16:32,967 Speaker 2: ton shipments of cocaine to land in Africa for him. 301 00:16:33,127 --> 00:16:35,847 Speaker 2: On their way to Europe, they paused for a moment 302 00:16:36,207 --> 00:16:36,967 Speaker 2: and order lunch. 303 00:16:38,007 --> 00:16:40,367 Speaker 3: I was some sort of American food, like something of 304 00:16:40,367 --> 00:16:42,047 Speaker 3: a fries it was. 305 00:16:42,087 --> 00:16:43,527 Speaker 5: It was he drank. 306 00:16:44,167 --> 00:16:44,967 Speaker 3: I drank a Lado. 307 00:16:48,687 --> 00:16:49,727 Speaker 5: What brand did you drink? 308 00:16:50,167 --> 00:16:52,087 Speaker 3: You should do tequila, but the high end tequila. 309 00:16:52,687 --> 00:16:59,167 Speaker 2: On John's kidding. Angel wasn't drinking on the job. And 310 00:16:59,207 --> 00:17:02,487 Speaker 2: it's a good thing. He wasn't because suddenly Kabazi throws 311 00:17:02,527 --> 00:17:03,247 Speaker 2: him a curveball. 312 00:17:03,847 --> 00:17:06,927 Speaker 3: So she after we established the relationship through the money 313 00:17:07,007 --> 00:17:11,847 Speaker 3: lundering side, then she to our sistance in getting weapons. 314 00:17:12,367 --> 00:17:15,087 Speaker 2: She wants them to help us source military grade arms 315 00:17:15,287 --> 00:17:18,847 Speaker 2: and blueprints for heavy weaponry. She needs a lot of them. 316 00:17:19,207 --> 00:17:21,687 Speaker 2: In fact, she says their clients looking to buy as 317 00:17:21,767 --> 00:17:25,727 Speaker 2: much as possible. They need everything, and she suggests a 318 00:17:25,767 --> 00:17:28,127 Speaker 2: code word for the deal, fireworks. 319 00:17:29,007 --> 00:17:30,527 Speaker 1: It's not the most subtle choice. I know. 320 00:17:31,567 --> 00:17:34,007 Speaker 2: Now, this isn't entirely out of the ordinary for Angel 321 00:17:34,447 --> 00:17:36,967 Speaker 2: drug traffickers or they like big guns. 322 00:17:37,527 --> 00:17:39,207 Speaker 3: So I mean, we didn't miss a beat, you know. 323 00:17:39,247 --> 00:17:41,927 Speaker 3: I think that's another thing. With the people that were 324 00:17:41,967 --> 00:17:45,287 Speaker 3: there doing the meeting, the experience level that we had, 325 00:17:45,647 --> 00:17:48,487 Speaker 3: we jump right on board, right. We quickly pulled our 326 00:17:48,527 --> 00:17:53,607 Speaker 3: military connections. In South America usually drug clafforcas, like many 327 00:17:53,607 --> 00:17:57,647 Speaker 3: other places in Latin America, they have high connections to 328 00:17:57,727 --> 00:18:00,887 Speaker 3: the military. In many countries, it's actually the military that's 329 00:18:00,927 --> 00:18:04,407 Speaker 3: unloading the drugs or from the dog shipments coming in 330 00:18:04,407 --> 00:18:06,087 Speaker 3: from the drug craffickers. 331 00:18:06,127 --> 00:18:09,487 Speaker 2: An Angel knows that if needed, his confidential sources can 332 00:18:09,487 --> 00:18:10,447 Speaker 2: make it look authentic. 333 00:18:11,087 --> 00:18:13,887 Speaker 3: We're ready to produce generals. We're ready to prove who 334 00:18:13,967 --> 00:18:16,247 Speaker 3: we are. We're ready to show you the weapons, whatever 335 00:18:16,287 --> 00:18:19,327 Speaker 3: we need to do. We have that experience where I 336 00:18:19,407 --> 00:18:21,367 Speaker 3: know I can pull up a general if I need 337 00:18:21,407 --> 00:18:23,767 Speaker 3: it in Latin America somewhere. I know I can put 338 00:18:23,767 --> 00:18:25,447 Speaker 3: a ship in a weapis together if I need it. 339 00:18:26,527 --> 00:18:30,127 Speaker 2: At this point, Angels lunchr Kabaesi is paying off big time. 340 00:18:30,527 --> 00:18:33,207 Speaker 2: They've got way more in play now than just money laundering. 341 00:18:34,127 --> 00:18:39,087 Speaker 2: And then suddenly she stops the conversation. Look, she says, 342 00:18:39,807 --> 00:18:43,847 Speaker 2: I'll be very transparent. Angel's playing it cool and nodding 343 00:18:43,847 --> 00:18:46,647 Speaker 2: his head. He tells her now is the time to 344 00:18:46,647 --> 00:18:49,167 Speaker 2: be straight with one another before they jump into an 345 00:18:49,207 --> 00:18:53,607 Speaker 2: international weapons conspiracy together. And then she drops a bomb 346 00:18:54,887 --> 00:18:56,767 Speaker 2: the people she wants to buy the arms for. 347 00:18:57,167 --> 00:18:58,527 Speaker 1: It's the Iranian government. 348 00:18:59,487 --> 00:19:02,407 Speaker 3: I remember my jod loved Actually remember looking at a 349 00:19:02,447 --> 00:19:04,287 Speaker 3: camera that I had. I looked at a camera that 350 00:19:05,167 --> 00:19:08,367 Speaker 3: was looking at me like like just making her face 351 00:19:09,567 --> 00:19:11,287 Speaker 3: just for myself. You know, sometimes you put down you're 352 00:19:11,287 --> 00:19:13,287 Speaker 3: on TV or something, but you can't believe what you're hearing. 353 00:19:33,487 --> 00:19:34,447 Speaker 1: So here's where we are. 354 00:19:34,727 --> 00:19:37,927 Speaker 2: Angels in a Brooklyn restaurant, sitting opposite a woman who 355 00:19:37,927 --> 00:19:41,087 Speaker 2: wants him to help her smuggle weapons for Iran. He 356 00:19:41,167 --> 00:19:43,047 Speaker 2: has to try and stay cool. But this is a 357 00:19:43,167 --> 00:19:46,647 Speaker 2: huge deal. What started out as a money laundering case 358 00:19:46,887 --> 00:19:48,767 Speaker 2: has turned into something much bigger. 359 00:19:49,807 --> 00:19:54,127 Speaker 3: That was a great moment. Actually, just surprised, extreme surprise. 360 00:19:54,327 --> 00:19:56,007 Speaker 3: You know that I didn't know right from the beginning. 361 00:19:56,047 --> 00:19:57,167 Speaker 3: We're going to hit a home run. 362 00:19:58,167 --> 00:20:00,447 Speaker 2: And there's a reason why someone like Kabzi would be 363 00:20:00,487 --> 00:20:05,047 Speaker 2: trying to buy guns on behalf of Iran. Until Russia's 364 00:20:05,047 --> 00:20:08,207 Speaker 2: invasion of Ukraine, Iran was the most sanctioned country in 365 00:20:08,247 --> 00:20:10,767 Speaker 2: the world. It's been under US sanctions for more than 366 00:20:10,807 --> 00:20:14,087 Speaker 2: forty years since the nineteen seventy nine revolution, when over 367 00:20:14,127 --> 00:20:17,327 Speaker 2: fifty Americans were taken hostage at the embassy in Tehran. 368 00:20:18,247 --> 00:20:21,807 Speaker 2: Since then, there's been wave after wave. There are response 369 00:20:21,847 --> 00:20:24,687 Speaker 2: to things like Iran's involvement in terrorist attacks around the 370 00:20:24,727 --> 00:20:29,247 Speaker 2: world and its nuclear enrichment program. Sanctions are away for 371 00:20:29,287 --> 00:20:32,487 Speaker 2: Western governments to punish the regime by cutting the country 372 00:20:32,567 --> 00:20:35,967 Speaker 2: off from the global financial system. It means that mostly 373 00:20:36,287 --> 00:20:39,607 Speaker 2: it's illegal for American companies to do business with critical 374 00:20:39,647 --> 00:20:43,247 Speaker 2: sectors of the Iranian economy. Things like banking and shipping 375 00:20:43,287 --> 00:20:47,727 Speaker 2: and oil, so it's inflicted a major cost, starving the 376 00:20:47,767 --> 00:20:51,247 Speaker 2: country of foreign investment and blocking imports of Western technology. 377 00:20:51,927 --> 00:20:53,647 Speaker 2: They can't just go and buy things on the open 378 00:20:53,687 --> 00:20:57,767 Speaker 2: market like other countries. All of this means they have 379 00:20:57,847 --> 00:21:00,927 Speaker 2: to come up with elaborate schemes to circumvent the sanctions 380 00:21:00,967 --> 00:21:03,927 Speaker 2: to get the things they want. It also means that 381 00:21:04,087 --> 00:21:06,927 Speaker 2: doing business with Iran it can land you in extremely 382 00:21:06,967 --> 00:21:10,847 Speaker 2: hot water. But that's exactly where Kobzi is hoping Angel 383 00:21:10,967 --> 00:21:14,567 Speaker 2: might be willing to do. She says, they're looking for 384 00:21:14,647 --> 00:21:17,847 Speaker 2: some serious kit. They want two hundred and fifty Cha 385 00:21:18,007 --> 00:21:20,647 Speaker 2: tac M two hundred sniper rifles, which are capable of 386 00:21:20,727 --> 00:21:24,047 Speaker 2: killing a target from two kilometers away. They want five 387 00:21:24,167 --> 00:21:27,407 Speaker 2: hundred M four assault rifles, and they want blueprints for 388 00:21:27,447 --> 00:21:31,727 Speaker 2: what she calls heavy weaponry. She starts telling Angel about 389 00:21:31,727 --> 00:21:34,607 Speaker 2: her high level contacts in the Iranian government and he 390 00:21:34,607 --> 00:21:37,807 Speaker 2: can meet with them to discuss specifications. They can meet 391 00:21:37,807 --> 00:21:41,367 Speaker 2: in Cyprus or the UAE. They're already planning on how 392 00:21:41,407 --> 00:21:43,087 Speaker 2: to get the weapons into Iran. 393 00:21:43,247 --> 00:21:48,047 Speaker 3: So when she starts talking about details of Iran Kish 394 00:21:48,167 --> 00:21:50,927 Speaker 3: Island etce in where her plan is, then. 395 00:21:52,447 --> 00:21:54,527 Speaker 2: It was a surprise. 396 00:21:54,687 --> 00:21:55,567 Speaker 3: Let's put it that way. 397 00:21:56,647 --> 00:21:59,287 Speaker 2: Kish Island is a free trade zone on an island 398 00:21:59,327 --> 00:22:02,367 Speaker 2: off the south coast of Iran. It's a regional tourism hub, 399 00:22:02,527 --> 00:22:05,967 Speaker 2: but Western governments say it's overflowing with smugglers. 400 00:22:05,487 --> 00:22:06,407 Speaker 1: And organized crime. 401 00:22:07,127 --> 00:22:10,327 Speaker 2: Kobazi tells Angel that she can get him diplomatic clearance 402 00:22:10,367 --> 00:22:12,367 Speaker 2: to land a plane full of weapons there. 403 00:22:13,047 --> 00:22:14,647 Speaker 3: I don't know if she actually mentioned the Cuds Force 404 00:22:14,687 --> 00:22:17,847 Speaker 3: for the military or Gorman personnel will actually unload the weapons. 405 00:22:18,527 --> 00:22:21,367 Speaker 2: The Kuds Force is the wing of the Iranian Revolutionary 406 00:22:21,367 --> 00:22:25,367 Speaker 2: Guard that's responsible for overseas operations. It's sort of an 407 00:22:25,367 --> 00:22:30,287 Speaker 2: Iranian equivalent of the CIA, combined with special forces. It's 408 00:22:30,287 --> 00:22:33,207 Speaker 2: all quite a lot to process, but Angel, he's just 409 00:22:33,287 --> 00:22:36,687 Speaker 2: nodding along. He tells her he lands planes on secret 410 00:22:36,687 --> 00:22:40,927 Speaker 2: airfields all the time. This is already pretty big. But 411 00:22:41,087 --> 00:22:45,247 Speaker 2: then she brings up yet another business opportunity, the drugs 412 00:22:45,247 --> 00:22:45,967 Speaker 2: and the weapons. 413 00:22:46,007 --> 00:22:47,807 Speaker 1: She tells Angel they're. 414 00:22:47,647 --> 00:22:51,527 Speaker 2: Good, but if they really want to make some serious cash, 415 00:22:51,607 --> 00:22:55,207 Speaker 2: they need to source spare commercial airline parts from Boeing. 416 00:22:55,967 --> 00:22:58,567 Speaker 2: Now that might sound a little odd, but plain parts 417 00:22:58,687 --> 00:23:01,727 Speaker 2: they're unbelievably difficult to source. For a country that's been 418 00:23:01,807 --> 00:23:05,207 Speaker 2: under Western sanctions for decades, and parts for Boeing planes. 419 00:23:05,647 --> 00:23:08,127 Speaker 2: You can't just swap them out for some other brand. 420 00:23:08,647 --> 00:23:11,927 Speaker 2: Kabazi tis Angel that her Iranian contacts are saying they 421 00:23:11,927 --> 00:23:15,167 Speaker 2: have fifteen planes that need new parts and they're willing 422 00:23:15,167 --> 00:23:16,167 Speaker 2: to pay top dollar. 423 00:23:16,847 --> 00:23:19,687 Speaker 1: Too much money, she says, billions. 424 00:23:20,447 --> 00:23:22,927 Speaker 3: Obviously she was in this world. She was hooked up 425 00:23:22,927 --> 00:23:26,047 Speaker 3: with the military. We happen to get lucky. 426 00:23:26,087 --> 00:23:26,447 Speaker 1: I guess. 427 00:23:27,727 --> 00:23:30,447 Speaker 2: After the meeting, Angel and John track a Baisi for 428 00:23:30,487 --> 00:23:33,207 Speaker 2: several more months. When they hear she's due to fly 429 00:23:33,287 --> 00:23:36,407 Speaker 2: into Atlanta, Georgia, they decide the times come to bring 430 00:23:36,447 --> 00:23:40,367 Speaker 2: her in. She's arrested. So let's pause it for a 431 00:23:40,367 --> 00:23:46,047 Speaker 2: minute and go back over exactly what's going on. We 432 00:23:46,127 --> 00:23:49,047 Speaker 2: have a money launderer who moves cash for cocaine traffickers 433 00:23:49,047 --> 00:23:52,007 Speaker 2: through Europe, and she says she works for the Iranian government. 434 00:23:53,007 --> 00:23:56,447 Speaker 2: She's offering top diplomatic clearance from Tehran to land weapon 435 00:23:56,527 --> 00:23:59,367 Speaker 2: shipments on islands, and she's also trying to find a 436 00:23:59,367 --> 00:24:03,567 Speaker 2: way around Western sanctions on things like plane parts. There 437 00:24:03,607 --> 00:24:05,807 Speaker 2: are lots of people in the murky world of drugs 438 00:24:05,807 --> 00:24:08,927 Speaker 2: and weapons who claim they have high level connections in governments, 439 00:24:09,287 --> 00:24:11,767 Speaker 2: it makes them seem more credible. So what I want 440 00:24:11,807 --> 00:24:14,487 Speaker 2: to know is just how serious she really was about 441 00:24:14,487 --> 00:24:17,127 Speaker 2: the arms deal, just how connected she really is in 442 00:24:17,207 --> 00:24:21,007 Speaker 2: the regime. In the court files for her case, US 443 00:24:21,127 --> 00:24:24,927 Speaker 2: government prosecutors say that her actions are quote hallmarks of 444 00:24:24,927 --> 00:24:27,647 Speaker 2: a person who's a professional arms trafficker, not a first 445 00:24:27,687 --> 00:24:31,687 Speaker 2: time neophyte. But that doesn't really answer my questions. I 446 00:24:31,727 --> 00:24:34,367 Speaker 2: tried calling her American defense attorney from the time, but 447 00:24:34,407 --> 00:24:37,767 Speaker 2: they said they couldn't contact her for me. According to 448 00:24:37,847 --> 00:24:40,487 Speaker 2: multiple sources I've spoken to, in the face of all 449 00:24:40,527 --> 00:24:44,007 Speaker 2: the evidence Angel and John had gathered, Kabazi pled guilty 450 00:24:44,087 --> 00:24:47,887 Speaker 2: to charges of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, 451 00:24:48,447 --> 00:24:51,607 Speaker 2: conspiracy to laun the drug money, and conspiracy to provide 452 00:24:51,607 --> 00:24:56,487 Speaker 2: illegal weapons. But then I discovered something. It was something 453 00:24:56,527 --> 00:24:59,807 Speaker 2: that completely changed my understanding of who a man Kobazi is. 454 00:25:00,967 --> 00:25:03,927 Speaker 2: It shows that she wasn't exaggerating about her top level 455 00:25:03,967 --> 00:25:07,687 Speaker 2: contacts in Iran. What I didn't know, and what's never 456 00:25:07,727 --> 00:25:12,327 Speaker 2: been reported before, is that US authorities believed Kobesi was 457 00:25:12,367 --> 00:25:16,007 Speaker 2: a close associate of a man called Abdullah Safiyar Dean, 458 00:25:16,967 --> 00:25:20,767 Speaker 2: and he's a very big deal in Iran. In fact, 459 00:25:21,287 --> 00:25:25,207 Speaker 2: US intelligence believe Kobesi was previously married to Safiyar Dein. 460 00:25:25,887 --> 00:25:29,687 Speaker 2: I've confirmed it with five former officials from several different countries. 461 00:25:30,247 --> 00:25:35,007 Speaker 2: She even told investigators herself about the marriage. Safiy aal Dean. 462 00:25:35,327 --> 00:25:39,207 Speaker 2: He's the Tehran based representative of Hespoller, the Iranian backed 463 00:25:39,327 --> 00:25:43,087 Speaker 2: Lebanese political party, a militant group is designated as a 464 00:25:43,167 --> 00:25:47,447 Speaker 2: terrorist organization by the US, UK, Germany and many other 465 00:25:47,487 --> 00:25:52,607 Speaker 2: Western governments. Hespaala is Iran's most important proxy military force. 466 00:25:53,287 --> 00:25:55,927 Speaker 2: That's a way for a country to fight armed conflicts 467 00:25:55,927 --> 00:25:58,847 Speaker 2: against its rivals through a third party or a militia 468 00:25:58,887 --> 00:26:02,927 Speaker 2: that it sponsors, but without getting directly involved itself. And 469 00:26:02,967 --> 00:26:05,887 Speaker 2: that makes Safiya Dean one of the most influential people 470 00:26:05,927 --> 00:26:09,247 Speaker 2: in Iran. And he's still in Tehran today and regularly 471 00:26:09,327 --> 00:26:12,407 Speaker 2: appears on state television meeting with people like the country's 472 00:26:12,407 --> 00:26:16,727 Speaker 2: foreign minister. I was first told about Kobaesi's connection to 473 00:26:16,767 --> 00:26:19,367 Speaker 2: safi al Dean by a source of the record, so 474 00:26:19,407 --> 00:26:22,047 Speaker 2: I spoke with several more people who had direct knowledge 475 00:26:22,047 --> 00:26:25,327 Speaker 2: of the case in different countries. It's not easy to 476 00:26:25,407 --> 00:26:27,527 Speaker 2: find people who are willing to talk about this sort 477 00:26:27,527 --> 00:26:31,247 Speaker 2: of sensitive stuff on the record. But I did find 478 00:26:31,287 --> 00:26:34,887 Speaker 2: one person. His name's Udi Levy and he's a retired 479 00:26:34,927 --> 00:26:39,527 Speaker 2: Israeli spy. Udi's the former head of the mossads Economic 480 00:26:39,527 --> 00:26:43,607 Speaker 2: Warfare Division, a unit that tracked money secretly being moved 481 00:26:43,607 --> 00:26:47,167 Speaker 2: around the world by Iran, Hespoala and others. He spent 482 00:26:47,327 --> 00:26:49,887 Speaker 2: thirty five years in Israeli intelligence and worked on the 483 00:26:49,887 --> 00:26:53,327 Speaker 2: country's National Security Council. And I asked him what did 484 00:26:53,367 --> 00:26:55,127 Speaker 2: he know about the Iman Kobeesi case? 485 00:26:56,687 --> 00:26:57,847 Speaker 5: What they didn't publish? 486 00:26:57,927 --> 00:27:00,447 Speaker 6: And if you asked me, it was most of the 487 00:27:00,527 --> 00:27:04,367 Speaker 6: sensitive issue in the first time is the real connection 488 00:27:05,247 --> 00:27:12,167 Speaker 6: between the highest level in Iran to that case. From 489 00:27:12,247 --> 00:27:17,167 Speaker 6: that point of view, it was a very sensitive and 490 00:27:17,287 --> 00:27:22,927 Speaker 6: the European country afraid to blame directly the highest level 491 00:27:22,927 --> 00:27:27,247 Speaker 6: in Iran and his Balah in their involvement in that case. 492 00:27:28,967 --> 00:27:32,047 Speaker 2: Iran and Haspola are sworn enemies of Israel, and the 493 00:27:32,087 --> 00:27:34,927 Speaker 2: Mossad spends a lot of effort tracking the activity of 494 00:27:34,967 --> 00:27:38,567 Speaker 2: the senior officials and Abdalla Safi ald he's been a 495 00:27:38,607 --> 00:27:40,967 Speaker 2: person of interest to people at Udi for a very 496 00:27:41,007 --> 00:27:41,527 Speaker 2: long time. 497 00:27:42,527 --> 00:27:47,767 Speaker 6: Oh Dalla Safia dian is I think it is today 498 00:27:47,967 --> 00:27:51,687 Speaker 6: number three or number four in the his Bolah leadership. 499 00:27:52,167 --> 00:27:56,607 Speaker 6: It was his Baalah at the sha if, we can 500 00:27:56,847 --> 00:28:00,527 Speaker 6: call it like that in Iran and the main connector 501 00:28:00,567 --> 00:28:06,127 Speaker 6: between Iran and his Bala, very very senior, a lot 502 00:28:06,167 --> 00:28:12,127 Speaker 6: of influence involved directly in the decise making in his Bala, 503 00:28:12,607 --> 00:28:16,407 Speaker 6: well well connected to the Iranian directly. I think it 504 00:28:16,527 --> 00:28:20,327 Speaker 6: was the highest level in this system, the dealing with 505 00:28:20,407 --> 00:28:24,887 Speaker 6: drug trafficking with the full knowledge of the other leaders 506 00:28:24,927 --> 00:28:26,287 Speaker 6: of the Iranian and Risbala. 507 00:28:28,927 --> 00:28:32,247 Speaker 2: Udis saying that this is not your average diplomat, He's 508 00:28:32,247 --> 00:28:35,487 Speaker 2: more like royalty. Safi Al Dean is the brother of 509 00:28:35,527 --> 00:28:38,647 Speaker 2: Hesbala's second in command and a cousin of its top leader. 510 00:28:39,207 --> 00:28:42,287 Speaker 2: His nephew's married to the daughter of Cassim Sulamani, the 511 00:28:42,327 --> 00:28:45,207 Speaker 2: infamous Iranian commander of the Kuds Force who was killed 512 00:28:45,207 --> 00:28:49,407 Speaker 2: in the US missile strike in Iraq in twenty twenty. Basically, 513 00:28:49,607 --> 00:28:51,767 Speaker 2: Safil Dein is one of the most well connected men 514 00:28:51,807 --> 00:28:54,727 Speaker 2: in the Iranian regime. But for John and Angel, his 515 00:28:54,807 --> 00:28:57,607 Speaker 2: connection to Kobesi was just another detail in a case 516 00:28:57,607 --> 00:28:58,887 Speaker 2: that took an unexpected turn. 517 00:28:59,767 --> 00:29:02,567 Speaker 4: Yeah, it didn't mean much. Times I met moderwere our headquarters. 518 00:29:02,647 --> 00:29:08,967 Speaker 4: People we're failed investigators, were out in the street going 519 00:29:09,007 --> 00:29:11,207 Speaker 4: to the targets, gathering evidence. 520 00:29:11,687 --> 00:29:13,767 Speaker 3: We didn't know she was married to or hooked up 521 00:29:13,807 --> 00:29:17,047 Speaker 3: that well until she brought it up, right, it was 522 00:29:17,167 --> 00:29:19,727 Speaker 3: her idea to bring up this weapons trafficking thing and 523 00:29:19,847 --> 00:29:21,847 Speaker 3: trying to court US to supply weapons. 524 00:29:22,407 --> 00:29:25,967 Speaker 4: Was she significant, Yes, she was significant. She pled guilty 525 00:29:25,967 --> 00:29:29,327 Speaker 4: to material support of terrorism and that you don't get 526 00:29:29,327 --> 00:29:30,807 Speaker 4: a charge like that every day of the week. 527 00:29:31,767 --> 00:29:34,287 Speaker 2: But there's something else that seems to me even more 528 00:29:34,287 --> 00:29:37,807 Speaker 2: significant about this case. Safia al Dean is accused by 529 00:29:37,807 --> 00:29:41,007 Speaker 2: the US government of being a mastermind behind various sanction 530 00:29:41,167 --> 00:29:44,767 Speaker 2: busting schemes. According to the US Treasury, he's the person 531 00:29:44,767 --> 00:29:47,807 Speaker 2: who acts as an advisor to Iran on financial matters. 532 00:29:48,287 --> 00:29:50,367 Speaker 2: They say he worked with Iran's central bank to move 533 00:29:50,487 --> 00:29:53,967 Speaker 2: hundreds of millions of dollars to avoid American sanctions. And 534 00:29:54,007 --> 00:29:56,967 Speaker 2: we know that Kobes she wasn't just laundering money through 535 00:29:57,007 --> 00:30:01,007 Speaker 2: Europe's cocaine trade. She was trying to circumvent US sanctions too. 536 00:30:01,247 --> 00:30:04,287 Speaker 2: She was trying to source weapons and vital industrial components. 537 00:30:05,247 --> 00:30:07,647 Speaker 2: I've tried to track down Kobesi to ask her about 538 00:30:07,687 --> 00:30:11,647 Speaker 2: all of this, but she's disappeared. She served several years 539 00:30:11,647 --> 00:30:14,727 Speaker 2: in the US prison and then she vanished. I spoke 540 00:30:14,727 --> 00:30:16,647 Speaker 2: with other people involved in the case, and they couldn't 541 00:30:16,687 --> 00:30:19,047 Speaker 2: tell me where she is now either. Some told me 542 00:30:19,087 --> 00:30:20,607 Speaker 2: they thought she was back in the Middle East, but 543 00:30:20,927 --> 00:30:24,247 Speaker 2: I haven't been able to find her. But now I've 544 00:30:24,287 --> 00:30:27,327 Speaker 2: found an indirect connection between one of the most powerful 545 00:30:27,327 --> 00:30:30,727 Speaker 2: officials in Iran and drug traffickers in Europe. And this 546 00:30:30,767 --> 00:30:33,527 Speaker 2: brings us right back to where we started this investigation, 547 00:30:34,007 --> 00:30:38,967 Speaker 2: the long Arm of Iran. So here's what we know. 548 00:30:39,567 --> 00:30:43,127 Speaker 2: According to the Dutch government, the Iranian regime ordered the 549 00:30:43,207 --> 00:30:46,047 Speaker 2: murder of Ali Muhammed in the Netherlands in twenty fifteen. 550 00:30:47,047 --> 00:30:50,007 Speaker 2: It was the targeted assassination of a man living under 551 00:30:50,047 --> 00:30:52,727 Speaker 2: a false identity, a man who was near the top 552 00:30:52,807 --> 00:30:55,287 Speaker 2: of Iran's list for revenge after he carried out a 553 00:30:55,367 --> 00:30:59,167 Speaker 2: huge terrorist attack in the early nineteen eighties. Finding him 554 00:30:59,367 --> 00:31:02,007 Speaker 2: and then assassinating him in the heart of Europe, it 555 00:31:02,007 --> 00:31:05,447 Speaker 2: would have required high level intelligence and authorization, someone at 556 00:31:05,487 --> 00:31:07,007 Speaker 2: the top of the Iranian government. 557 00:31:07,967 --> 00:31:10,447 Speaker 1: And we know that the who arranged. 558 00:31:10,087 --> 00:31:13,007 Speaker 2: The murder he was being protected in a Dublin flat 559 00:31:13,047 --> 00:31:16,287 Speaker 2: belonging to the Kinahans, the Irish family at the center 560 00:31:16,407 --> 00:31:21,087 Speaker 2: of the Dubai supercartel. John and Angel, they discovered that 561 00:31:21,167 --> 00:31:25,087 Speaker 2: money laundering connects cocaine traffickers in Europe with officials in Iran. 562 00:31:25,727 --> 00:31:28,527 Speaker 2: So could that explain what connects the Kinahans to the 563 00:31:28,567 --> 00:31:30,127 Speaker 2: assassination of Alimtomit. 564 00:31:31,367 --> 00:31:32,407 Speaker 1: That's what we're going to find. 565 00:31:32,287 --> 00:31:35,527 Speaker 2: Out next time, and we'll meet a US attorney who's 566 00:31:35,567 --> 00:31:38,007 Speaker 2: digging deeper into the Kinahan money machine. 567 00:31:38,727 --> 00:31:41,167 Speaker 7: It became clear to me as a prosecutor that what 568 00:31:41,207 --> 00:31:45,767 Speaker 7: they were doing is they were using the fighters as 569 00:31:45,807 --> 00:32:02,927 Speaker 7: a way to move money through the system. 570 00:32:03,087 --> 00:32:05,607 Speaker 2: Hot Money is a production of The Financial Times and 571 00:32:05,647 --> 00:32:08,887 Speaker 2: Pushkin Industries. It was written and reported by me Myles 572 00:32:08,967 --> 00:32:11,647 Speaker 2: John and if you've got any leads or information about 573 00:32:11,647 --> 00:32:14,647 Speaker 2: this story, you can email me at new narcosat FT 574 00:32:14,927 --> 00:32:19,367 Speaker 2: dot com. The series producer is Peggy Sutton. Edith Russello 575 00:32:19,527 --> 00:32:23,167 Speaker 2: is the associate producer. Fact checking is by Arthur Gompertz, 576 00:32:23,927 --> 00:32:29,207 Speaker 2: engineering by Sarah Bruguerer, sound design from Jake Gorsky. Jeremy 577 00:32:29,207 --> 00:32:32,887 Speaker 2: Warmsley wrote the original music. Our editor is Sarah Niss 578 00:32:33,207 --> 00:32:36,887 Speaker 2: and the executive producers are Jacob Goldstein and Cheryl Brumley. 579 00:32:37,727 --> 00:32:42,087 Speaker 2: Special thanks to Laura Clark, Alistair Mackie Breen Turner, Rya 580 00:32:42,167 --> 00:32:43,647 Speaker 2: Jalabi and David Fooks.