Explain hawala . Discuss how it works and why terrorist organizations use it. Be sure to also include why it is a problem from a counterterrorism perspective

Question

What will be an ideal response

Answer 1

Hawala is an informal and often unregulated remittance system that operates from many countries conducting domestic and international transactions.84 It was developed in India before formal banking practices were introduced. In some cities of the world Hawala services are openly advertised.85 Hawalas are a faster and safer means than using a courier who could be arrested for currency violations or another offense while traveling. Hawalas are distinguished from traditional banks by (1) strong trust; they are illegal in some countries, yet they operate effectively and efficiently without regulatory oversight or any legal recourse; (2) hawala dealers are often bound together by family, business partners, or regional connections; (3) they make minimal use of formal negotiable instruments;( 4) no money is actually transferred between hawalas; (5) the transactions take place based on communications between members of a network of hawaladars or hawala dealers; (6) hawalas operate with little paperwork and what exists is minimal and often in codes; (7) they provide better currency exchange rates than banks offer; (8) the person receiving the money gets it fast, within hours to a day or two at most; (9) some hawaladars are open and available 24-hours a day, such as local grocery stores; and (10) all taxes are avoided. Because hawala is in secret virtually no paper trail exists and the fact that hawala can involve several steps, it is very hard to trace and interrupt. This is the main reason it is a problem for counterterrorism efforts.