Money is needed to run any organization, trade, business and administration. Similarly, terrorist organisations also require funds to carry out horrific violent activities to pose a threat to peace and security.
They use cash to develop destructive weapons, pay salaries to their members and deploy troops and conduct training.
Unlike legitimate businesses, these terrorist groups indulge in illegal ways of extracting money and plan underground operations. Let’s have a look at the richest and the most dangerous terrorist organisations of the world with their sources of income:
1) ISIS
Annual Turnover – $2 Billion
Region- Iraq and Syria
Islamic State Of Iraq and Syria or ISIS is the richest terrorist organization in the world with an annual turnover of $2 billion. The main source of its enormous funding is oil trading. ISIS controls about 60% of Syria’s oil fields and seven major oil refineries in Iraq. Oil is extracted and sold in the black market in huge quantities.
The other sources include looting, kidnapping foreign nationals for ransom and bank robberies.
Read More: Taliban Looking For Young Girls To Marry, Conducting House-To-House Search, Says Escaped Journalist
2) Hamas
Annual Turnover- $1 billion
Region- West Bank and Gaza Strip
Hamas, a terrorist group that aims to create a Palestinian Islamic State from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan river has been involved in militancy activities against the State of Israel.
The main source of its fundings includes taxes and fees, financial aid and donations secretly provided by other countries, especially Qatar.
3) FARC
Annual Turnover- $600 million
Region- Columbia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is a terrorist group responsible for militancy activities in Columbia since 1964.
The main sources of funding include drug dealing, extortions, murders, bombings, gang wars and other criminal activities.
4) Taliban
Annual Turnover- $500 million
Region- Afghanistan
Taliban, a terrorist organization formed by students in Afghanistan in 1994, remains one of the most destructive and richest terrorist groups in the world. It has taken over Afghanistan after defeating the Afghan army following the withdrawal of U.S forces after 20 years.
It has been analysed that it has amassed a wealth of $500 million through taxes by farmers and protection money from tech companies over the years for its terrorist activities.
5) Hezbollah
Annual Turnover- $200 million
Region – Lebanon
This terrorist group was formed in Lebanon in 1985. It gets the support of the government as it works against the invasion of Israel in Lebanon since its creation. They have generated a sum of $200 million through drug trafficking and money laundering.
There is no doubt that terrorism survives on a huge amount of funds. Monitoring the illegal trading and sources of these groups can be an important step towards eliminating terrorist activities.
Image Credits: Google images
Sources: Forbes, NBC, Economic Times
Find the blogger: @fulara_richa
This post is tagged under terrorists, terror, terrorism, terror organizations, terrorist groups, terrorist organizations, richest terrorist organizations, richest terrorists, terrorism in the world, Taliban, Hezbollah, Isis, hamas, FARC, peace, security, international peace, border, safety, global terrorism, threat, funds, funding, terrorists, terrorist weapons, capital
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