The infamy we attribute to terrorist groups defined as being volatile, barbaric, and immeasurably reckless certainly rings true. However, it isn’t as popularly considered that in addition to these adjectives, terrorism, like any other form of organized crime, is also highly strategic, deliberate, and calculative. Much of the strength of terrorist organizations lies in the interdependency they create between themselves and the region in which they operate. Economic interdependency in particular is what makes these forces of violence and hate so difficult to combat; they become embedded in a region and the spoils of their crimes – literally the profits gained from acts of terrorism – are gained through the tactical victimization of large populations and local institutions.

There is great power in dirty money. Much of what’s secured the reign of terror these extremist and murderous contingents have executed for years is the huge profits their crimes rake in. Extortion, assassination, kidnapping, human trafficking, counterfeiting, and drug trade (to name a few of their criminal activities) amount to a considerable amount of cash. This in many ways marks terrorism as being in fact a business, and a successful one at that.

Several of the most infamous names in terrorism that we’ve come to learn about in recent years have maintained their high-stakes game of power through being strongly financially supported. Multimillion dollar donations to terrorist groups by other terrorist organizations, sympathizing political parties, and even governments themselves are not unheard of and if it’s not the profit gained from theft and murder that’s to be had, it’s the financial support procured from affiliates that maintain terrorism as a moneymaking enterprise.

‘Money makes the world go round’ by making its rounds around the world. When we consider how ill gotten cash circulates and becomes recycled into the community from which it’s profited (and inevitably the rest of the world amidst growing globalization), it’s well understood that the cost of crime is a higher tax than we can continue to afford.

With that said, it becomes a point of interest to learn which terrorist groups profit the most from their crimes against humanity. Of course, it’s difficult to trace sums of money that aren’t meant to be traced, and for this reason, most of the dollar sums we hear of are estimates when it comes to documenting the richest terrorist groups. Nonetheless, we’ve ranked some of the wealthiest terrorist organizations out there, according to educated estimates reported in the media, bringing to light the dark reality of the profits they’ve reaped at the expense of other people’s lives.

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7. Boko Haram: Over $70 million


via actforamerica.org
The Boko Haram are a Nigerian terrorist group who fight to overthrow the Nigerian government in order to implement an Islamist regime. They have bombed UN headquarters and most recently abducted over 200 Nigerian school girls in defense of their namesake “Western Education is Sin”. Since they’ve remained off the radar since their recent attacks, it’s unclear just how much money they make from their numerous kidnappings and the subsequent ransoms they procure. It has been determined, however, that between 2006-2011, they collected over $70 million.

6. Lashkar-e-Tayyiba: $100 million a year


via gg2.net
The Lashkar E Taiba, who call like to call themselves the “Army of The Righteous”, was founded in the 1990′s. They’re a militant group originating from Pakistan who also wreak havoc on India. Hypocritically enough, apart from raging war and killing hundreds of civilians, they also establish several charitable organizations in Pakistan, like hospitals and schools. Regardless, their extremist ideals and murderous ways of executing them render them a deadly threat. Their annual revenue is estimated to be around $100 million, much of which is funded through donations from affiliate parties.

5. FARC: $80-$350 million a year


via ebarrongts.
The Marxist guerrilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC) has been around since the 1960’s. They’ve been dubbed a terrorist threat in their country due to the numerous kidnappings, assassinations, and bombings they’ve executed on Columbian citizens in the name of anti-imperialism. Apart from the money the make from collecting ransoms and through extortion, FARC also produces and sells vast quantities of illegal drugs that further fuel their high annual revenue.

4. Al-Qaeda: Over $100 million a year


via nypost.com
Founded by Osama Bin Ladin, the global Islamist militant organization, Al-Qaeda, a name which translates to ‘The Base” has been around since the 1980s. Having attacked several civilian and military regions, Al-Qaeda is well known around the world as one of the largest and deadliest terrorist groups. Suicide bombings are among their favorite tactics of destruction. What makes this group such a tough force to combat, is the fact that they have wide-spread, terrorist group allies. Before their 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, the CIA estimated that Al-Qaeda made well over $30 million a year, raised mostly through donations; today, that number has surely increased. Bin Ladin was himself a multimillionaire at the time he founded the organization and about $10-15 million was reportedly paid annually to the Taliban while he was leader.

3. Taliban: Over $400 million


via mirror.co.uk
The infamous Taliban of Afghanistan secures the obscenely profitable annual revenue of over $400 million from expansive drug trade, human trafficking, extortion, as well as a large amount of donations from foreign organizations that support their ill-gotten empire. The Taliban are responsible for a huge opium production operation in Afghanistan that heavily contributes to an estimated $70-$400 million that they rake in annually from illicit drug trade alone.

2. IRA: Over $450 million


The Irish Republican Army (IRA) has been dubbed one of the more prominent professional money laundering organizations in Europe. Originating as a revolutionary group fighting for Irish independence from Britain, the IRA fought for political control for several decades. They are considered a terrorist group due to countless bombings and assassinations attributed to them during the revolt against imposing British rule in Ireland. They now own numerous small businesses throughout the UK and allegedly use the profits to fuel their criminal acts, according to Ireland’s organized crime task-force. The IRA also builds significant revenue through drugs, tax fraud, robberies, smuggling and counterfeiting.

In 2013, the Irish Independent reported that the IRA were connected to the Italian mafia to the tune of 450 million euro in property assets – this is only one link that has been made public, and prompts theorizing as to the groups further mafia links both in Italy and elsewhere. It has been estimated – as per a 2005 Guardian report – that the IRA have made the equivalent of $17 million yearly in organised crime operations like smuggling.

Since the ceasefire in Ireland as a result of the Good Friday Agreement in 1999, the group are officially decommissioned and in 2005 they announced an official end to their campaign, but reports of illegal, underground money-making activities spearheaded by the group persist.

1. ISIS: $2 billion


via nbcnews.com
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, more commonly known as ISIS – which was once a part of Al Qaeda – has been dubbed the richest terrorist group to date. The jihadist militant group has recently made headlines after one of their most prominent leaders (who was captured by Iraqi officials) spilled the secrets of their exploits and uncovered the grim reality of their obscene wealth. ISIS is worth an estimated $2 billion, much of this money coming from looted weapons and bank robberies. Having stripped a broken Syria of its oil reserves and even priceless artifacts from archaeological sites, ISIS has secured an enormous wealth from crime. The group comprised of thousands of members is still a very active threat, having killed thousands of civilians and government agents and still running rampant within a highly sophisticated infrastructure. They are, it is believed, the richest terrorist organisation in the world today by a large margin.

some are even richer than some countries

over here in naija we have


pee dee pee ....$550 million


hey pee see.......$450 million

FTC

if interested in online importation biz QUOTE ME

double

what do all these terror groups share in common?

zeelo2014: what do all these terror groups share in common?

I dunno pls tell me,but take note of the IRA. & FARC

Onlinebizexpert: some are even richer than some countries

over here in naija we have


pee dee pee ....$550 million


hey pee see.......$450 million

Why then are the boko boys stealing food from villagers? Meanwhile one of the boko haram members spoke with BBC yesterday, says girls are in good health. Read it here: http://www..com/a-self-confessed-boko-haram-member-says-chibok-girls-are-in-good-health/

Front page after 3 weeks on nairaland? *dancing skelewu on Lagos-Kotonou express road*

and where do they get the money from

Funniez: Front page after 3 weeks on nairaland? *dancing skelewu on Lagos-Kotonou express road*

whats the big deal about this front page things

Issokay...pls which bank sells their recruitment form/scratch card ? I wouldn't mind working in their Treasury/Audit/Financial dept - i studied Finance...hehe

most of d islamic terrorist are funded by the real terrorist USA. last month obama was seeking 200m for syrian rebels. d same set of pple have bcom ISIS. one day d USA will bcom a waste land. dey killed an unarmed osama because he was gonna open der yansh if caught Alive

Onlinebizexpert: some are even richer than some countries

over here in naija we have


pee dee pee ....$550 million


hey pee see.......$450 million

I don die for laugh...Nairalandiiiiii

When will I ever be the first to comment?

terrorist sef get money? hian!!!

nedu2000: I dunno pls tell me,but take note of the IRA. & FARC

You spotted a religious bigot.

8. Whisper88 world terror conglomerate, worth only $40million for now. We r still sourcing for more funds

hmnnnnn thats all I can type

So what is the importance of this info

In conlusion,all of them originated frm islam



thank you.

Hmmmm.

Hmm, islam is very rich

CIA of usa us also terrorist group,thy loot countries with oil.

Whats next? Net worth of the leaders of the groups??

No hatred ooo,why now islams?

zeelo2014: what do all these terror groups share in common?

They have leaders


e.g Pee Dee Peee --- JanjaDull

AaaPeeeCeee --- supporter of APC

Bokoharam don go international.

But why is it that all these terrorist groups have one or two links with ISLAM? Dont we have the ones related to other religions? its so sad

Please! ISIS is calling on all Muslims all over the world to go to Syria and Iraq to fight for Allah and the new Caliph. I pray all Nigerian Muslims heed to this call and go and fight for Allah faraway from here so that the we can sleep in peace here. I don't think one can mention 10 Islamic countries that doesn't have an obtrusive security challenge. Haba! Go to Syria joor!