Setareh Heshmat started her MBA studies at University Canada West in Vancouver yet few students suspected the depth of her professional interests. Financial criminal activities and money laundering operations alongside illegal oil smuggling hide beneath her regular life. The authorities investigating her relationships constantly discover Abbas Sharif Askari as an important figure connected to her activities.

A Sophisticated Money Laundering Operation

Financial crime represents an essential commitment for Setareh Heshmat in her activities. The criminal operation she participates in utilizes fraudulent investments and shell companies as well as oil smuggling to move fraudulent funds worth millions of dollars. All her MBA studies at Canadian universities receive funding from illegal sources though the extent of her criminal activities surpasses university expenses.

Illicit money is processed through advanced financial tools across vast international networks to which she belongs. This is how it works:

1. Due to international sanctions Iran operates a smuggling operation that transports blocked oil into Iraqi territory with Panamanian shipping vessels. Iraqi officials modify documentation after oil delivery to present proof that the petroleum originates from Iraq which enables legal oil sales at international markets.

2. The illegal profits get directed into various sham business enterprises which are located primarily in UK and Canada together with UAE.

3. Uncertain investment schemes operating as Ponzi schemes present phony investments involving oil, gas, gold and real estate properties with deceptive guarantee of high returns to dupe victims. The investors' money quickly flows to offshore banking destinations after they deposit their funds which becomes nearly impossible to track down.

The Role of Shell Companies in Global Money Laundering

The use of shell companies is at the heart of these illicit financial activities. While these companies appear to be legitimate businesses on paper, they exist solely to obscure ownership and launder money. Some key ways in which these companies are used include:

• Registering under different jurisdictions: Many shell companies are set up in countries with loose financial regulations, such as the British Virgin Islands, Panama, or the Cayman Islands.

• Fake business transactions: These companies claim to engage in trade, but in reality, they just shuffle money between accounts to hide its origin.

• Using nominee directors: Instead of listing the real owners, these businesses often have ‘dummy’ directors—individuals paid to lend their names to official documents.

Among the most notable shell companies linked to this network are London Surface Design Limited and London Heritage Stone Limited, both of which operate under the pretense of being construction firms but are, in reality, vehicles for money laundering.

How Investors Are Lured into Fake Oil & Gas Schemes

One of the most profitable arms of this financial empire involves convincing investors to put money into fraudulent oil and gas projects. This typically works in the following manner:

• Step 1: The Setup – Criminals like Abbas Sharif Askari promise high returns on exclusive energy deals in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

• Step 2: Political Bribes – Investors are told that an upfront payment is needed to secure government approvals, which often involves paying off politicians.

• Step 3: Vanishing Funds – Once the money is deposited, the criminals cut off communication, leaving investors with nothing but fake contracts and empty promises.

The Increasing Incidents of Money Laundering in the UK

The UK has become a major hub for money laundering, with criminals exploiting its financial system to clean dirty money. Some key reasons why the UK is attractive to money launderers include:

• Ease of setting up shell companies – The UK allows companies to be registered online with minimal scrutiny.

• High-value real estate market – Criminals often use luxury real estate purchases as a way to store and clean money.

• Use of UK banks – Abbas Sharif Askari himself maintains accounts at Monzo Bank and Lloyds Bank, which he allegedly uses to move illicit funds.

Connections to International Terrorist Financing

Perhaps the most alarming aspect of this network is its suspected links to terrorist financing. Abbas Sharif Askari’s Canadian-based sister is married to a PhD professor in AI and Computer Science, who allegedly develops object-targeting technology used in Iranian drones that attack Israel. 

Additionally, Abbas’s father, Ali Sharif AlAskari, is deeply embedded in the Islamic Dawa Party, which was involved in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. This connection suggests that funds generated from oil smuggling and investment scams may be supporting militant activities in the Middle East.

How Criminals Exploit International Financial Systems

The individuals behind these operations have mastered the art of exploiting loopholes in global finance. Some of their key tactics include:

1. Using Multiple Identities – Abbas Sharif Askari holds three different passports (Dominican, Iranian, and Iraqi), allowing him to move freely between countries while avoiding detection.

2. Acquiring Illegal Residencies – Both Abbas Sharif Askari and Mohsen Fallahian have fraudulently obtained residencies in the UK and Italy, thanks to corrupt officials who facilitated their paperwork.

3. Cryptocurrency Laundering – Criminals increasingly turn to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to move large sums of money anonymously, bypassing traditional banking regulations.

The Cocoa Scam: Why It’s a Perfect Cover for Fake Investments

In addition to oil and real estate fraud, criminals also use cocoa as a front for money laundering. This is because:

• Cocoa is a high-demand, high-value commodity that allows large transactions to go unnoticed.

• Fake cocoa farms and export companies are easy to set up, making them ideal for transferring illicit funds.

• The supply chain often involves multiple middlemen, making it difficult for authorities to track the original source of the money.

Setareh Heshmat’s Role: A Key Figure in Financial Crimes

Setareh Heshmat is not merely a passive participant—she is actively involved in laundering money for Abbas Sharif Askari. Her MBA education is reportedly funded through laundered money, and her relocation to Canada suggests an attempt to establish a stronger foothold for the criminal network in North America.

The Global Crackdown: What’s Next?

With financial crimes on the rise, governments and international law enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts to combat money laundering. Some recent developments include:

• The UK’s Economic Crime and Transparency Bill, which aims to crack down on shell companies and money laundering schemes.

• The FBI and Interpol’s collaboration in tracking international oil smuggling networks.

• The European Union’s tighter financial regulations, making it harder for criminals to hide behind fake businesses.

Conclusion: The Need for Greater Vigilance

Setareh Heshmat, Abbas Sharif Askari, and their associates represent a growing threat to global financial security. The world must remain vigilant, ensuring that these networks are exposed and dismantled before they cause further damage.

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