Feds Investigate Tulsa Auto Dealership For Terrorist Involvement

Jamie Oberg, News 9

TULSA, Oklahoma -- It's a national investigation involving 30 car dealerships across the country, even in Oklahoma.

Millions of dollars made here in America may be going straight to terrorists. That's what federal agents think.

"This is a global enterprise," DEA spokesman, Rusty Payne said.

Payne says it's an alleged money laundering scheme that's gone global that might involve a used car dealership in Tulsa.

This scheme now has a terrorism task force made up of federal investigators traveling to Tulsa, investigating one of possibly 30 dirty dealerships on US soil.

"Some of that money is diverted to Hezbollah," he said."Follow the money back, and the drug proceeds, and the money flows around the world."

Used cars, drugs and millions of dollars have been traced back and forth from the U.S. to overseas accounts.

Agents say the money we spend may as well be going straight into the pockets of terrorists who hate America the most.

Hezbollah may have killed more Americans than even Al Qaeda.

Agents believe more than $400 million in drug money alone has gone to terrorist groups.

Payne says they're tracing it and have reason to believe a lot of money has changed hands internationally.

"Cocaine from cartels… the flow of money is flowing back into the U.S. and these used car companies ship to West Africa," he said.

Agents say the terrorists are wiring money back to used car dealers in the U.S. for their services and also so they'll buy more used cars to send overseas.

"We're destroying ourselves with drug use and drug abuse and trafficking. Also,those proceeds coming out of people's pockets eventually around the world into terrorist coffers."

Agents say red flags went up when they saw a $20 million wire transfer into a U.S. used car company's account. Agents say the bank accounts are in Lebanon and controlled by terrorists.

A joint terrorism task force is looking for more than $480 million from Lebanese institutions.