FBI Worries About Mafia - Al Qaeda Links

Federal officials are concerned that Al Qaeda may be developing ties with mafia members within the United States. While the links may not be concrete yet, there is one case in particular that has FBI agents worried. During an undercover operation, FBI agents tracked one mafia member who was selling missiles to a "terrorist" middleman who turned out to be an FBI informant.

This one case has heightened alarm that Al Qaeda may have found a very efficient way of infiltrating the United States. "We are continuing to look for a nexus," said Joseph Billy Jr., the FBI's top counterterrorism official. "We are looking at this very aggressively." In order to determine whether actual links may exist, the FBI is planning to focus on white collar crimes, along with their national intelligence operations.

It may also be more than just a case of the usual suspects. In addition to the so-called Italian mafia, the United States is home to Russian mobsters and an increasing amount of Asian mafia members as well. A recent study that was conducted by the Pentagon seemed to back-up what the FBI's worries.

It stated in part, "Although terrorism and organized crime are different phenomena, the important fact is that terrorist and criminal networks overlap and cooperate in some enterprises. The phenomenon of the synergy of terrorism and organized crime is growing because similar conditions give rise to both and because terrorists and organized criminals use similar approaches to promote their operations."

Apparently, the FBI isn't the only organization that has these concerns. A former FBI agent who is now employed by a private security company recently stated, "I am aware of a high-level Mafia figure, who was cooperating with authorities, being asked if the Mafia would assist terrorists in smuggling people into Europe through Italy. He said, 'The Mafia will help who ever can pay.'"

Matt Heron, the head of New York City's FBI Unit voiced similar worries, stating, "They (the mafia) will deal with anybody, if they can make a buck. They will sell to a terrorist just as easily as they would sell to an order of Franciscan monks. It's a business relationship to them. If the mob has explosives and a terrorist wants them and they have the money, they could become instant friends."

This latest trend highlights a shift within the United States, to begin focusing on homegrown terror, in addition to outside threats.