June 19, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1424

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NEW YORK, June 18: Six Pakistani men were arrested on Monday for illegally sending tens of millions of dollars to Pakistan through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, the US attorney’s office in New Jersey has announced.

A spokesperson for US Attorney Christopher J. Christie told Dawn that the six men had been charged with illegally transferring more than $70 million in the period between Jan 1, 2002, and June 13, 2003.

According to a criminal complaint filed under seal in the US District Court on June 13, the men operated and aided and abetted the operation of unlicensed money transmitting businesses in New Jersey and New York.

However, a spokesperson told Dawn that evidence had not shown any connection between the illegal money transmitting businesses and terrorism.

According to the complaint, New Jersey resident Syed Azhar used a licensed money transmitting business in Iselin, New Jersey, to assist the operation of three unlicensed money transmitting businesses in New York. The other detained are: Farooq Malik, Umer Darr, Umar Mushtaq, Khurram Farid and Ali Cheema.

At the court appearances on Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Percell asked Judge Mark Falk not to release defendant Syed Azhar fearing that he would flee the country. Judge Falk then set the hearing date for June 20.