INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS LINKED TO SALE OF COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS.

NEW YORK, NY… October 22, 2001...On October 16, 2001, Michael Kessler, President and CEO of Kessler International, an International Corporate Investigation firm with headquarters in New York, issued a Press Release stating that the world’s food and drug supply was vulnerable to terrorist tampering and was being used as a means to fund terrorist activities. Kessler has been investigating the sale of counterfeit and diverted products for over a decade. 

In the release Kessler stated “During the time we have been conducting investigations of counterfeiting and diversion of products we have found that the network of counterfeit activity is widespread and encompasses more than just t-shirts.  Over this time we have investigated cases involving prescription drugs, software, food, cigarettes, liquor, baby formula, auto and airplane parts, perfume, watches, and various household products. Obviously, not all of these items can be directly attributed to Osama Bin Laden, but counterfeiters are generally not upstanding citizens of our nation.Groups that are profiting from counterfeiting are numerous terrorist groups, underworld organizations and various criminal factions.”

On October 19, 2001 Mr. Kessler’s statements again were proven true as three Alberta, Canada residents were detained on immigration charges and are under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the FBI for links to the September 11 attacks on the United States. The three men were arrested after their Alberta apartment was searched and RCMP officers found numerous false travel documents including passports from Sweden and Jordan.  One of the individuals arrested, Mohamadkhair Salah who said at his detention hearing that he had “nothing to do with September 11”, is also wanted in the United States on charges of trafficking in counterfeit goods namely baby powder formula that did not meet US-FDA health standards.

Salah, who fled the United States after hearing of the warrant for his arrest on the counterfeiting charges, returned to Jordan and Palestine. He entered Canada in November 2000 on a Swedish passport, which he stated he bought to enter Malaysia and Asia after traveling through Palestine, Jordan, the UAE, Kuala Lumpur and Korea.

The other individuals arrested were also known to law enforcement in the United States. Emad Hassan was convicted in 1998 of defrauding the U S Government of about $ 1 million dollars through food stamps. Hassan is believed to have at least 14 aliases and attended an aviation program in 1994 at the University of Chicago. Hassan also attended an international aviation and travel academy in Texas for airline maintenance. Yousef al-Amleh whose date of birth and fingerprints match a man named Yousef Hassan is wanted for sentencing in the United States on bank fraud in Chicago.

Michael Kessler again stressed the need for better laws concerning the sale and distribution of counterfeit and diverted merchandise and better enforcement and intelligence gathering by law enforcement officials.

Kessler stated, “Many of us ask what can be done to combat terrorist activities. One answer is now apparent. Take away the means of support of these terrorist groups such as the sale of counterfeit merchandise and we will be greatly reducing their ability to harm us once again.”

For more information about Kessler International or for detailed information about product counterfeiting and diversion contact Michael G. Kessler at 212-286-9100 or visit their website at www.investigation.com