FBI Raids African Focused Money Tranfer Shops
Three Minneapolis money transfer businesses were raided Wednesday by Federal Agents that help with Somali community relations with their family and friends in Africa, reported the Associated Press.
The agents sought records of financial transactions to several African and Middle East countries but would not say if the raids had to do with the missing Somali men from the Twin Cities area, according to the Star Tribune.
Federal agents raided the Qaran Express and Aaran Financial, in the Karmel Mall, and North American Money Transfer Inc. at the Village Market Mall, at E. 24th Street and Chicago Avenue S.
The Star Tribune reported the raids could be part of the effort since 9/11 to track funding to overseas terrorist networks.
"We've been through this before," Omar Jamal told the Star Tribune, executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center in St. Paul. "What happened today is the beginning of a long story, so we don't want the community to panic."