U.S. declares Pak-based Khanani Group a money laundering firm

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The Pakistan-based Altaf Khanani Group has been declared a Money Laundering Organisation (MLO) in a report issued by the U.S. State Department.

The report, made available to the media for the first time in nine years, has alleged that the group was involved in the laundering billions of dollars for organised crime groups and terrorist establishments across the world.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs William R. Brownfield discussed the State Department's 32nd International Narcotics Control Strategy report that was presented to the Congress in a briefing in Washington.

"Pakistan-based Altaf Khanani MLO was nominated by the USA as an international organised criminal group. The organisation facilitated illegal transfers of money between countries including UAE, the UK, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, and the USA," Geo News quoted the report as saying.

According to the report, the Khanani MLO was responsible for annually funnelling billions of dollars to terrorist establishments in various countries.

The report also alleged that Pakistan is involved in the monetary facilitation of crimes including tax evasion, fraud, corruption, trade in counterfeit goods, smuggling of illegal items, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling/trafficking, terrorism and terrorist financing.