Somali Pirates: Terrorist Connections Alleged

This time the Somali pirate-terrorist connection link allegations come from India. As set out in Somali pirate-LeT tie-up is BIG threat for India:

The coming together of Lashkar-e-Tayiba and southern Somalia-based Al-Shahbab poses new maritime protection issues for India.
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Intelligence sources told rediff.com that the Al-Shahbab group has links with the Al Qaeda and carries out the latter's operations. The cadres of this group specialise more on sea and have been using the pirates for their operations.
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The detail that has been most revealing during the interrogation of these pirates is that the Al-Shahbab group, which has been closely associated with the Al Qaeda, is now cozying up to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which is probably India's biggest headache.

Intelligence reports suggest that the Lashkar-Al-Shahbab association will look to carry out more attacks on Indian waters and one could witness plenty of hostage crisis' in the near future, if not acted upon.

For those who don't remember, Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) ("Soldiers of the Pure") is the group from Pakistan was the group that landed people ashore in Mumbai and killed 174 people.

As alleged in an American Shipper quoted yesterday:

“The Somali pirates are exploring further collaboration with the remnants of the Tamil Tigers out of Sri Lanka who in the past have sold weapons to them via Eritrea, and now our greatest fear is a coordinated assault between the Somali pirates and the remnants of the Tamil Sea Tigers against commercial navigation in the waters south of India and Sri Lanka,” Frodl said.

Before thinking that these connections may be about spreading terrorism on the seas, it is a good idea to read a post from Martin Murphy's excellent blog Murphy on Piracy, Pirate money flows to al-Shabaab in which, as of July, Mr. Murphy was of the opinion that the al-Shabaab link to pirates was about the money, not the spread of whatever al-Shabaab is spreading. In the context of some link up with the Tamil Tigers, this money connection makes sense, as the Tigers are not radical Islamists.

The concern is that these connections - and others- will lead to a spread of piracy into more sea lines of communication and chokepoints.  Right now, the entrance/exit to the Red Sea, the  Bab el-Mandab and the entrance/exit to the Persian Gulf are most impacted by piracy (that's where the ships are!), a spread to the east brings into play the entrance/exit to the Strait of Malacca.

Sri Lanka:Terrorist/Pirate "Sea Tigers" Sunk?

The Sri Lankan government and it military have the Tamil Tigers on the ropes, it appears:

The Sri Lankan military gave an ultimatum to Tamil Tiger rebels to surrender or face annihilation in the eight square mile sliver of coast where they were pinned down along with thousands of civilians.

The army, which claims to have killed more than 500 rebels over the weekend, set up loudspeakers on the edge of the “no-fire zone” and broadcast the ultimatum.

“We have given them the truth,” said Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a military spokesman. “This is the last time they have to come and surrender.”

While the fighting and accusations of brutality on land continue, some are writing of the death of the world's best known terrorist navy. For example, the Asian Tribune's "LTTE’s Era of Sea Piracy Has Ended", which includes a partial recounting of the "Sea Tigers" attacks on merchant and fishing fleets:

Operating the most comprehensive naval networks among the designated foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S., the LTTE’s Sea Tigers were considered, until recently, as "untouchable" pirates who feared no nation. They were one of the leading pirates in the world, though little known, because of their unfortunate targets were often Malaysian, Jordanian, Philippine, Maldivian Chinese and Sri Lankan ships and the crew often disappeared.
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Indian Ocean is a hunting ground for two of the world’s notorious sea criminals: LTTE and Somali pirates. Both these groups are operating in lawless, semi-autonomous pieces of land conducive to their unlawful acts. However, Somali pirates usually take crew members hostage to obtain ransom, but the LTTE, more interested in the goods—to feed its cadres—and the ship—to use for smuggling— than ransom, often got rid of them to cover up its trails.

On May 23, 1997, Greek registered freighter "Stillus Limassul" left Mozambique port of Beria for Sri Lanka carrying 32,400 81mm mortar bombs intended for Sri Lanka's army. The Sri Lankan armed forces never received this U.S. $ 3 million consignment of arms. The LTTE off-loaded the military supplies from this ship and transported it by small speed boats to LTTE jungle bases off Mullaitivu coast. These weapons, a month later, were used by the LTTE with a devastating effect to control the A9 Highway.

When the LTTE captured MV Cordiality near the port of Trincomalee, they killed all five Chinese crew members on board. On May 25, 1999, LTTE hijacked the MV Sik Yang, a 2818-ton Malaysian cargo ship with a cargo of bagged salt, which was sailing from Tuticorin, India and used it as a phantom vessel (Salt, sodium chloride can be changed to sodium chlorate easily, which when mixed with aluminum can make very powerful explosive powder). The fate of its 63-member crew is still unknown.

In December 2006, LTTE forced a Jordanian ship, MV Farah III carrying 14,000 tons of Indian rice to run aground. LTTE robbed the rice and removed all radio communication equipment, radar, lights and generators from the vessel. Asian Tribune reports on December 24, "Jordan Transport Ministry told the Jordanian news Agency, Petra that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) seized one of the Jordanian ships off Sri Lanka North East coast and burgled it."

In March 2007, LTTE hijacked an Indian fishing trawler “Sri Krishna” off the Moldavian waters and kept its crew hostage in Vanni. The Maldivian Coast Guard intercepted the vessel, reported missing since March 4, with a large consignment of artillery shells after LTTE cadres commandeered it and fired at the Maldivians. An Indian captain and four LTTE operatives were taken into custody by the Maldivian Coast Guard.

According to the Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from October 1994 to January 2007, ships LTTE attacked also include MV Ocean Trader, MV Sea Dancer, MV Lanka Muditha, MV Irish Mona, MV Princess Wave, MV Athena, MV Mission, MV Morang Bong, MV Princess Kash, MV Newco Endurance, MV Julia, MV Mercs Uhana, MV Pride, MV Dunhinda, MV Fu-Yuan and MV Liverpool.

In addition, there were several sea battles with Sri Lankan naval forces, often marked by the use of Tiger "suicide boats." See here.

The Sea Tigers were known for their innovative boats and tactics, including the use of divers to attack ships in port. Other weapons included the alleged manned suicide torpedo. Attacks on merchant ships were not limited to divers. See here for a report on Tiger boats attacking a ship in port.

The "Sea Tigers" would assert, in part of their media campaign, to be live savers, as set out in their version of the Farah III episode:

The Tigers deny it is piracy and report the "rescue" of the crew see here:

Tamil Tiger rebels say they have rescued 25 sailors from a crippled Jordanian ship off Sri Lanka's north-eastern coast, dismissing government accusations that they staged a "pirate attack".

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan says the seamen are being taken to safety despite rough seas.

"We noticed a ship drifting in our waters and we also saw suspicious activity of the Sri Lankan Navy [and] we boarded the ship to rescue the crew," he said.

But Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry says a distress message indicating that the vessel was "under armed pirate attack" was received by the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre in Britain, which conveyed it to the Sri Lankan naval authorities.

If reports of their end are true, not much time should be spent mourning their departure from the stage.

Sri Lanka: Interesting LTTE Boats Captured

Photos of an interesting boat design attributed to the LTTE found by Sri Lankan military forces at a purported Tamil Tiger boat yard, as reported here in a typically florid piece from the SL government:

Troops of 58 Division on final phase of the Wanni liberating offensive uncovered the largest LTTE boat ever found during the Wanni offensive from northwest of Puthukudiyirippu yesterday, 23 February. , ,



The recovered sea tiger boat is nearly 60 feet long, military sources said.

LTTE terrorists have removed the engine and other accessories of the boat and abandoned it on a trailer when it was recovered by the troops.

Troops in further search and clear operations were able to locate the boats manufacturing yard in 500m away this morning, 24 February. Machineries used for the boat production, prototype of the boat and the removed accessories of the boat were also found from the boat yard, military sources added.

To me the boat appears to be a semi-submersible design with two screws, two rudders. Judging by the rust level it may not have been an active project.

In addition, there have been recent reports of captured LTTE submarines (with link to SL government site) with more photos, some of which are below. As you may note, some of the craft pictured at the government site do not appear to be submarines.





UPDATE: Daniel Sekulich at Modern Day Pirate Tales had an earlier report on the "LTTE subs."

Tamil Tigers: Suicide Planes

Terrorism trendsetters, the Tamil Tigers, claim to have used "kamikaze" aircraft on a mission against the Sri Lankan government, as reported here:

A Tamil Tiger plane on a "suicide mission" has flown into a government building in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo injuring at least 39 people.

It smashed into Sri Lanka's main tax office, detonating a bomb and causing a massive explosion.

A second plane involved in the mission was shot down by Sri Lanka's air force as it attempted to get away.

The country's only international airport was shut down and flights diverted to neighbouring India, military officials said.

Airforce spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said gunners had brought down one of the light aircraft near the international airport.

Residents in Colombo said they heard blasts shortly after the electricity supply was cut off, plunging the capital and its half-a-million residents into darkness.

Anti-aircraft guns began firing into the night sky from several locations across the city.

Military officials say they tracked two aircraft which they believed to be those of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Those planes operate out of a narrow strip of land still under their control in the north-east of the island.

The propaganda arm of the LTTE claims the attacks were on the Sri Lankan Airforce HQ and an airbase.

More info here:

The military has recovered the wreckage of the aircraft and a body of the LTTE pilot from Katunayake area. The military, quoting initial investigation, said in a statement that that the pilot, whose body was found intact, had a large quantity of explosives and bombs inside the aircraft.

"The dead Tiger pilot was carrying two cyanide capsules and a powerful bomb with his seat," the statement said.

Sir Lanka: Tamil Tiger Underwater Gear Found

The government of Sri Lanka has been engaged in a major push against the Tamil Tiger rebels. As part of that offensive, government forces have located some Tiger underwater gear, as reported here:

Troops have recovered LTTE marine equipment including 20 diving kits and 3 underwater scooters. They were found by the 58th division commanded by brigadier Shavendra Silva in the area of Ampalavan and Pokkanai to the north of Puthukudiyiruppu. This is the first recovery made by the soldiers of LTTE marine equipment. Security forces believe that these equipment were to be used either for LTTE leaders to escape or for the use of suicide attacks.

Tamil Tiger suicide attack have been a model for other radical groups, including their use of suicide bomb belts. The "Sea Tiger" maritime portion of the group has engaged the Sri Lankan Navy in pitched sea battles and bombed ships in harbors. The equipment captured would support covert insertion of underwater attack units.

More here from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense:

Infantrymen of 58 Division further advanced into LTTE hiding area entering Ampalavanpokkanai town perimeter have found underwater scooter, diving kits, oxygen cylinders and many other diving equipments from west of Puthukudiyirippu area yesterday, 19 February.


Nearly 5 hours long fighting between troops of 6 Gemunu Watch (6GW) and terrorists ensued in the area before troops captured these items, defence sources in battlefront said.

Two underwater scooters, Oxygen cylinders in various capacities, modern diving kits, sniper weapon and many other diving equipments were among the items uncovered.

Pictures are from that site and appear to me to show rebreathing diving gear and one man sea scooters. Not fancy, but capable.

Sri Lanka: Tamil Tiger suicide boats try to take out food supply merchant ships

Reported as LTTE suicide attack damages one ship off Jaffna coast:

A Sri Lankan cargo vessel was “badly damaged” when the Tamil Tiger rebels Wednesday carried a pre-dawn-suicide attack targeting two government merchant vessels off the Kankesanthurai harbour in the northern Jaffna peninsula, naval sources here said.Navy spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said that three explosive-laden suicide boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) targeted merchant ships Ruhuna and Nimalawa, off Kankasanthurai (KKS) harbour at 5.10 a.m. Wednesday.

“One of the suicide boats has exploded in close proximity to Merchant Ship Nimalawa causing considerable damage to the ship’s hull,” Commander Dassanayake said, claiming that these two merchant vessels were deployed to transport essential supplies to the northern Jaffna peninsula.

He said that the sailors providing security on board the targeted vessels “have engaged machine gun fire at the approaching suicide boats effectively, and destroyed two of them before ramming on the ships”.

He claimed that the third LTTE suicide craft had been captured by the navy.

Sri Lanka navy fights Tiger boats

The on-going battle between the Tamil Sea Tigers and the Sri Lankan navy continues, with allegations of Sea Tiger's using sea mines and the Sea Tigers asserting "suicide boats". Reported here:

Sri Lanka's navy has fought a battle with a flotilla of Tamil Tiger boats off the island's north-east coast.

It comes days after officials said a navy fast-attack craft was sunk by a sea mine. The rebels claimed it was sunk by a suicide attack.
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The latest sea confrontation took place in the middle of the night.

A navy patrol spotted a small flotilla of Tamil Tiger boats hugging the coast and opened fire.

Navy spokesman Lt Cdr Rohan Joseph said one rebel vessel was disabled in the fighting but he had no details on whether anyone on board was wounded or killed.

The use of sea mines by the Sea Tigers would be of interest to ships transiting the area, as Galrahn notes here, but for a variety of reasons, I tend to believe the Sea Tigers this time.

Latest ONI Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report (to 23 Jan 08)

The latest Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report is found
here. Highlights:

2. INDONESIA: The Indonesian government has agreed to install seven radars provided by the US in the Makassar Strait to support security efforts in the major sea lane, as of 22 Jan 08 reporting. Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono stated the installation of seven radars is meant to support ASEAN maritime defense and security. He explained that the US government is committed to helping Indonesia build its capacity to secure its waters by providing the surveillance radars. He also stated that the security of the Sea Lines of Communication in the Asia and Pacific region is a matter of vital importance to its users. The US previously providedIndonesia with five surveillance radars that were set up along the Malacca Strait to support security (ANTARA News).
3. SRI LANKA: The Sri Lankan Navy has put in place “underwater defense system” or
mines, between Kachchatheevu and Neduntheevu (Deft Island) as part of efforts to prevent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) activities from crossing into Indian territorial waters, per 23 Jan 08 reporting. The Sri Lankan Navy asked the Indian Navy to warn Tamil Nadu fishermen against crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) for safety reasons. A copy of the message was reportedly forwarded to all concerned authorities. Local Indian fishermen raised the concern that they could not always identify the IMBL and distinguish between Indian and Sri Lankan waters. They claimed that the sea between Kachchatheevu and Neduntheevu is their “traditional” fishing ground (LM: The Hindu, Time of India).
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2. SOUTH CHINA SEA: Container ship (AL MUTANABBI) reported suspicious approach
27 Nov 07 at 1430 local time, while underway in position 06:46.0N-107:50.0E, approximately 120NM North of Pulau Laut, Indonesia, per 02 Jan 08 reporting. Two small wooden boats were spotted about 4NM on the starboard side of the ship. The boats appeared to be moving on a course that would narrowly cross the vessel’s bow. The boats were blue in color, about six to eight meters long and powered by outboard motors. A total of five men were on board the two boats. One of the boats suddenly altered its course towards the portside of the vessel, and appeared to close in the on the vessel from its port bow. The ship master took evasive measures to prevent boarding, and the boats eventually moved away. The incident was reported to the
Vietnam Marine Police (ReCAAP).
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6. INDONESIA: Tug (MAKMUR ABADI-I) towing barge (MAKMUR ABADI-V) hijacked, 23 Dec 07, near Bilang-Bilangan Island, off East Kalimantan coast. While sailing from Tanjung Redep, East Kalimantan, to Surabaya East Java with a cargo of crude palm oil, the tug and barge were stopped by seven men in a speedboat. The pirates were armed with sharp weapons and overpowered the skipper and crew and locked them in a cabin. The pirates repainted the tug and barge (OCEAN LINE-1) and (OCEAN LINE 2) respectively, then steered the vessels toward Labuan, Malaysia. The Indonesian Naval patrol vessel (KRI SUTEDI SENAPUTERA-878) was patrolling the Ambalat region when it chased and eventually intercepted the pirated vessels. The pirates were arrested and taken to the Tarakan naval base in East Kalimantan. From there, they would later be transferred to Surabaya to undergo a judicial process (LM: ANTARA News).

Tamil Tigers: Sri Lanka captures Tiger Remotely Piloted Aircraft?

Reported as Two remote-controlled aircraft seized from LTTE:

The Sri Lanka Navy on Thursday claimed to have recovered two “remote-controlled aircraft”, following an attack on two “small size logistics boats” of the LTTE in the coastal waters north of Thallaimannar.

As per the Defence Ministry, Inshore Patrol Craft (IPCs) on Thursday morning confronted two small size LTTE logistic boats in the coastal waters, North of Thallaimannar and seized two remote-controlled aircraft along with many other sophisticated military equipment destined for delivery to the terrorists.

The navy targeted the suspicious boasts when they fired on the IPCs on being challenged to prove their identity. The navy believes that the four Tiger cadres on the boats were killed in the incident.

Inside the boats, the navy found two remote-controlled aircraft — one fixed wing aircraft with about 6ft wingspan and the other a miniature helicopter which is about 1ft in length. Among the other items that have been found are four radio communication sets, 10 hand-held Global Positioning Systems (GPS), four satellite phones, 45 radio antennas, 100 electronic circuit boards, battery charges and 300 litres of hydraulic oil.
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It is immediately not clear if the aircraft and the military equipment seized by the Navy was being transported to strengthen the nascent air wing of the LTTE. The rudimentary air wing of the Tigers hit world headlines in March-April this year after the LTTE low-flying aircraft managed to hit military targets on four different occasions.

Tamil Tiger Supply Ships Sunk

Reported here and here:

The Sri Lanka Navy announced that it had destroyed three Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) freight ships carrying heavy loads of arms and ammunition within a period of twenty four hour successively.

Acccording to intelligence reports of the Navy the the gunrunning vessels in addition to large stocks of arms and ammunition was also carrying a bullet proof car for the LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The sinking of the news came with another major defeat for the LTTE of the arrest of Kumaran Padmanadan (KP) the most successful fugitive arms procurer of the group in Thailand.

The Navy said the the successive attacks on the LTTE arms smuggling ships, which they claimed as the biggest Naval success so far, occurred during the the twenty four hours ending in the morning of September 11 killing at least 12 to 15 LTTE cadres in each ship.

The Navy said the attacks took place 600 nautical miles or 1200 kilometers North East of Dondra Head , the island nation’s southernmost tip, in the Indian Ocean.

The Navy gun ships , armed with intelligence reports that the ships were coming were anxiously patrolling in the area , waiting for the arrival of the contraband carrying ships, the Navy said.
The Navy refused to identify the source of the arms but said they were coming from from the Sourth Eastern direction indicating it is a country in South East Asia.

The Ministry of Defense said, “The first LTTE ship was detected around 8 on Monday (September 10) morning. The Navy gun-ships had rounded up the suspicious ship which had no ensign or name on it and ordered to identify itself, using the international challenging procedures. Instead of providing the information to the Navy, the suspicious ship had opened fire towards the navy ships compelling the sailors to fire in retaliation, causing the ship to be destroyed around 10.30 a.m.”

According to the same sources, later the same day, the Navy detected two more suspicious vessels in the same waters sailing in the same direction as the first ship keeping about a 50 Km gap between each other.

The navy said navy gunboats approached the second ship and they were shot at like previously , compelling them to destroy the freighter around 5.30 in the evening.

The third arms carrying vessel of the LTTE was destroyed after a pursuit. The Navy said, the third suspicious vessel was first detected around 10 p.m. After five hours of pursuit, the Navy could get sufficiently close to it. This vessel had fired 120 mm heavy mortars at the approaching Navy vessels before it was sunk by naval fire around 3 this morning, the Navy claimed.

Navy Commander Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda said the Navy Intelligence Department had received information on the LTTE ships about two weeks earlier, and proactive action were taken by Navy Headquarters to intercept them.

Speaking to reporters, at a media briefing in Colombo, the Navy Commander said, with the latest triumph of the Navy, nine out of ten ships believed to be owned by the LTTE terrorists have been destroyed. The Navy further said the navy has destroyed six LTTE ships since February of 2007.

According to Commander DKP Dassanayake , the spokesman of the Navy, the LTTE ships had been carrying large stocks of military hardware, fuel and a bullet proof vehicle for LTTE's leader V. Prabhakaran. He said, according to the intelligence reports, there were 120mm heavy mortar guns and bombs; stocks of ammunition for 130 mm; 122 mm and 152 mm artillery guns; Spare parts of three light aircraft; one high-speed boat and fuel onboard the ships.
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Chemical weapons for the Tamil Tigers?

The government of Sri Lanka is warning “LTTE planning chemical attack”:

The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry claimed on Saturday that the LTTE’s “plot to utilise chemical weapons in their future battlefields” has been tracked by intelligence sources.

In a report attributed to a news website operated out of the nation, the Ministry said there was enough evidence to prove that the LTTE “already has built up stocks of cyanide and potassium during the ceasefire period”.

The Ministry also said the LTTE had an underground laboratory in the Adampan area bordering Mannar-Kilinochchi districts.

“This suggests the LTTE are planning for chemical attacks in the near future.”

The Tamil Tigers are somewhat of a trend-setting group in the terrorism world...

Sri Lankan Government on Tamil Tiger Strategy

Found here, the MOD of Sri Lanka notes a special Jane's Intelligence Review detailing the Tamil Tiger strategy and funding sources:

Jane's Intelligence Review- well known International Review Agency has stated that the LTTE's strategic need to acquire high-tech weaponry, such as surface-to-air missiles, indicates that its activities will continue.

The Jane's Intelligence Review in a special edition highlighting LTTE terrorist activities stated that the LTTE's strategic aim of defeating the Sri Lankan military and securing a political victory in the form of a separate Tamil state depends on the organization's capacity to source money and arms abroad.

It added that this process can only be undermined if the western law enforcement bodies take steps to crackdown funds and weapons to the LTTE. "After accounting for its estimated USD8 million per year of costs within LTTE-administered Sri Lanka, the profit margin of its operating budget would likely be the envy of any multinational corporation," the report said.

According to the report, though the estimated annual income of the LTTE is between USD 200 to 300 million its costs are only USD 8 million.
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The report said it further makes clear the LTTE wished to obtain military weaponry that could destroy boats. Illustrating the LTTE's decision-making structure and relative wealth, the operatives - allegedly naming and referring to Pottu Amman as responsible for 'outside purchasing' of arms - discussed a price of USD900, 000 to USD937, 000 for an initial package of 10 SA-18 surface-to-air missiles, 500 AK-47 assault rifles and the necessary training, which was to take place in Sri Lanka, the Jane's Review further said.
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The LTTE agents specified the point of delivery should be a ship-to-ship transfer in the Indian Ocean. The Jane's Review report on the LTTE fund raising described the European Union as an additional theater for the terrorist group's financial operation. The Review has given a detailed report on the LTTE activities in the recent past to strengthen their point.

It said that since May 2006 since its proscription increased law enforcement activities have taken place in France.The report said Lawrence Thilagar, former head of the LTTE international and Velyummylum Manoharan have been previously based in Paris. Manoharan was also granted French citizenship since May. The French authorities started the raids, the report said, to coincide with the fundraising activities of the Tamil Tigers, believed to start every Friday evening and last until the following Sunday.

Citing an Indian news report the Jane's report said in France every Tamil family had to pay Euros 2000 (USD 2728) and every Tamil business had to pay Euros 6000 (USD 8185) every year to the LTTE. The report said aggressively violent treatment was applied to those who failed to pay, like abducting Tamils to a LTTE associate owned farm and torturing and ransoming until their families agreed to pay significant amounts to buy the release.

The report said the LTTE outsourced its fundraising tasks to Tamil gangs on a 20 percent commission basis. This had been done to allow the LTTE some plausible deniability in the event of a raid. It further said reports about employing gangs for extortion and other illicit activities by the LTTE were also prevalent in the United Kingdom.

Reporting LTTE fundraising activities in Norway in May 2007 the report said by a credit card fraud some 16 men acting on behalf of the LTTE had gathered NOK 5.3 million (USD 890,000) and on being convicted of the skimming went to jail for five and half years. The report said international credit card frauds are also outsourced on a commission basis.

In May 2007 a six man Tamil team from UK, according to the report arrive in the port city of Singapore with blank cash machine cards, a cash machine card encoder and a portable computer that contained data about card account holders in the United Kingdom.

The demeanor of one of the six aroused suspicions of a security guard and the arrest of all with USD 354,070 in a hotel they have accumulated after three days activity. All were convicted to seven to 10 year's jail terms. Similar frauds by the LTTE have been caught in Kenya, Sri Lanka and Thailand, the report says.

In case you were wondering how terrorist organizations work...