TERRORISM FINANCE: CUSTODIAL INTERVIEWS PROVIDING LEADS INTO AL-QA'IDA FINANCIAL NETWORK

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06739783
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 2, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-02373
• Publication Date: August 7, 2002

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
7 August 2002
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
Terrorism Finance: Custodial
Interviews Providing Leads
Into Al-Qa'ida Financial
NetworkSvNi (
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Terrorism Finance: Custodial Interviews
Providing Leads Into Al-Qa'ida Financial
NetworkrAc4.
Key Findingqq,
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Detainees are disclosing fragmentary information on al-Qa`ida
financiers�including donors, fundraisers, and facilitators�that may help
identify additional al-Qa`ida operatives and networks. Most detainees are
employing counterinterrogation techniques and appear to be hiding
detailed financial information. Nonetheless, they have provided:
� New insight into the identities, role, and locations of senior al-Qa'ida
financial operatives such as Bin Ladin financial advisor Shaykh Sa'id and
11 September financier Mustafa Ahmed al-Husawi. (S( kR)
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Terrorism Finance: Custodial
Interviews Providing Leads Into
Al-Qa'ida Financial Network
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Diverse Financial Networks Revealed')
Custodial interviews of captured and arrested al-
Qa'ida operatives and financiers are beginning to
reveal new details of the group's financial network.
Detainees are using interrogation countermeasures to
withhold or provide false information. We are
working to verify these disclosures and pursue
additional requirements.
� The arrests of key al-Qa'ida facilitators, such as
"Riyadh" and and high-
ranking al-Qa'ida operatives including Abu
Zubaydah and Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, are providing
multiple windows into the terrorist financial
network.
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� For example, we obtained intelligence from Abu (b)(1)
Zubaydah that helped lead to the capture of (b)(3)
financiers and operatives, including "dirty
bomb" operative Jose Padilla, who was caught
carrying $10,000 entering the United States in June.
Donors, Fundraisers, and Facilitators (U)
Detainees have provided information on al-Qa'ida-
linked donors, fundraisers, and facilitators, although
the information is incomplete and some almost
certainly is false.'
� Abu Zubaydah
have disclosed partial information on
aonors.
� Key al-Qa'ida operatives have revealed information
on fundraisers, many of whom are either deceased
or incarcerated.
' See Appendices A, B, and C on al-Qa'ida donors,
fundraisers, and financial facilitators for more details.
This assessment was prepared by the DCI Counterterrorist Center's Office of Terrorism Analysis.
Comments and queries are welcome and may be directed to tilt
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� Several detainees�including Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi
and courier Masran bin A'rshad�have provided
detailed information on al-Qa'ida financial
facilitator
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We also have obtained information on senior al-
Qa'ida financiers, such as Shaykh Sa'id and Hasan
Ghul. Acquiring additional details on these
individuals is a top priority. t` (b)(3)
Al-Qa'ida's Expenses-0J)-
Al-Qa'ida Senior Financier Shaykh Sa'id-(ShiNcd+
Custodial interviews are
shedding new light on the
importance of Shaykh Sa'id,
whom we believe to be a chief
financier for Usama Bin Ladin.
Shaykh Sa'id�also known as
Shaykh Sa'id al-Masri and
Mustafa Muhammad Ahmad�
Shaykh Said (S//NF)
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Counterinterrogation Techniques And Intelligence
Gaps os.)
Many detainees are reluctant to discuss key details of
the al-Qa'ida financial network, and some have used
counterinterrogation techniques to thwart collection.
� Many of the custodial interview reports suggest that
detainees are providing just enough information to
appease interrogators. The reports suggest detainees
are trying to influence as well as inform.
� They seldom give specific information on
individuals and entities involved in terrorism
finance; aliases and partial names are common.
� Some detainees are refusing to talk altogether,
including key facilitator
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Next Steps With the Detainees 44)-
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2 See Appendix C for more details. eff1-)
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Appendix A
Donors 04t-
Custodial interviews are providing a few leads to the
identities of al-Qa'ida donors�particularly wealthy
individuals
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Appendix B
Fundraisers -64}
Disclosures on al-Qa'ida fundraisers bolster previous
information'
However, we judge that many
detainees�especially Abu Zubaydah�have not
shared their entire knowledge of al-Qa'ida
fundraisers.
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Appendix C
Facilitators 04
Several detainees have provided information on al-
Qa'ida financial facilitators, including a wealth of
intelligence on couriers.
Other detainees�such as
"Riyadh" and Abu Zubaydah�have provided
details on the role of Pakistani al-Qa'ida facilitator,
fundraiser, and guesthouse manager Hasan Ghul.
� In May and June, Abu Zubaydah provided details to
interrogators on alleged 11 September attack
financial facilitator Mustafa Ahmed al-Husawi.
Abu Zubaydah mentioned that the Saudi al-Husawi
was known as Zaher, and was a member of the al-
Qa'ida media committee. Moreover, Abu
Zubaydah revealed that al-Husawi is an associate of
Khalid Shaykh Muhammad�the "Brain"�and
may have fled to Iran.
We are obtaining more information on al-Qa'ida
methods of moving funds:
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