U.S. Customs Launched 'Operation Green Quest' Investigation Terrorist Funding Kicking Ass in October 2001, FBI Shut it Down and Took over May 2003.

U.S. Customs launched 'Operation Green Quest'  an investigation into terrorist funding in October 2001, FBI shut it down and took over in May 2003. U.S. Customs Operation Green Quest was busting down doors, kicking ass and taking names, FBI called the Customs agents "Cowboys" but took all their files in 2003, especially the secret Sarasota investigation into the 9/11 support network of spies and Imams. These are the investigation files of the 9/11 support network in Sarasota Fl that the FBI refuses to release, (28 pages etc) as seen in the 9/11 Families lawsuit on Saudi Arabia. I know this for a fact as I was there! As much as what has been revealed by the FBI about the 9/11 hijackers support network in San Diego CA prior to 9/11, there is twice as much to be revealed about the support network for the three 9/11 hijack pilots stationed in Sarasota Fl! U.S. Customs merged, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was newly formed in 2003 by merging the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the former U.S. Customs Service with those of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

The U.S. government assembled a team of financial sleuths to cut off terrorists from their lifeblood - money in October 2002. Under Operation Green Quest, law enforcement people with financial expertise will investigate how terrorists move their money and where, the Bush administration announced. The government would use the findings to freeze financial assets, seize money, impose fines and launch legal proceedings, including criminal prosecutions. Using undercover operations, electronic surveillance and other techniques, the special investigative team will closely examine underground financial systems, illicit charities and corrupt financial institutions. It also will target other funding mechanisms for terrorists, including counterfeiting, credit card fraud, cash/car smuggling and drug trafficking.

"The lifeblood of terrorism is money, and if we cut the money we cut the blood supply," said assistant attorney general Michael Chertoff, the head of the Justice Department's criminal division. The al-Qaeda network has built a fund-raising operation using Islamic charities and relief organizations that attract money from wealthy donors. Al-Qaeda moved its money through front companies and in suitcases stuffed with cash, and by using the ancient, informal banking network known as "hawala" that is popular in the Middle East and south Asia. Roughly 30 people from various federal law enforcement agencies will be reassigned to the project, to be run out of a Customs Service command center. A senior Customs official will serve as director, a senior IRS official will be the deputy, and a senior FBI official will be on staff, as will two Justice Department prosecutors. The team will serve as the investigative arm for the Treasury's office that freezes financial assets and for a newly created center that has brought together intelligence, law enforcement and financial regulators to chase terrorist money.

Led by the U.S. Customs Service, Operation Green Quest served as the operational and investigative arm for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the new Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking center, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and other entities tracking terrorist assets. Using leads from these entities and leads developed independently, the initiative will launch full-scale investigations resulting in seizures, blocking orders, civil and criminal forfeitures, criminal prosecutions, and other actions. Outside Washington, D.C., Operation Green Quest will have field task forces (Tampa and Bradenton Fl) pursuing terrorist finances. Operation Green Quest's most high-profile operation was a raid carried out on March 20-21, 2002, against 19 Muslim charities and foundations in Herndon, VA.

In June 2002, the Washington Post will headline an article, “Infighting Slows Hunt for Hidden al-Qaeda Assets.” [Washington Post, 6/18/2002]. FBI Wants Control of Green Quest – With the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security (see November 25, 2002), the FBI and its parent agency the Justice Department are given a chance to gain total control over Operation Green Quest. The Treasury Department agencies participating in Operation Green Quest are the Customs Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and the Secret Service. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutors from the Justice Department's Criminal Division are representing the Justice Department in Operation Green Quest. "Operation Green Quest (ICE) was shut down nationwide due to the conflicts with the FBI in the Sarasota 9/11 investigation which led directly to terrorism". 

In May 2003, the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security signed an agreement transitioning the U.S. Customs Service's Operation Green Quest to the FBI. Terrorist financing cases were transferred to the FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Forces. 'FOLLOW THE MONEY' TO SARASOTA, FLORIDA: Inside the Saudi 9/11 Cover-Up of the Terrorist Support Network in Sarasota Fl by the FBI and CIA after Sept 11 2001. Secret ICE Operation Green Quest Investigation of 9/11 Sarasota Fl Support Network in 2002 shut down by FBI in 2003. The FBI appears to have 'protected' the Saudi family in Prestancia Sarasota Fl. The ICE 2002 - 2003 Operation Green Quest Investigation of 9/11 Terrorist Support Network in Sarasota Fl, "follow the money," Saudi funded Ministry of Islamic Affairs linked to support of 9/11 pilot terrorists.

 
Sarasota Private Investigator Bill Warner, True Crime Stories, Bill Warner Investigations Sarasota Fl.