Designated with Yaya Jata Fanusie The Financial Intelligence Enforcer: John A. Cassara | Designated
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Jan 28, 2025 John A. Cassara, a former CIA Case Officer and Treasury Special Agent, brings 26 years of expertise in combatting financial crime. He discusses the critical role of human intelligence in financial investigations, especially post-9/11. John shares thrilling anecdotes from his undercover work, including infiltrating arms dealing networks. He sheds light on the intricate Hawala system and its implications on illicit finance, while also advocating for enhanced enforcement within the Treasury to tackle evolving global threats.
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Early CIA Career
- John Cassara started his career at the CIA after college, expecting to be like James Bond.
- He worked in the library, then as a case officer in Africa during the Cold War, recruiting sources.
Undercover Arms Dealing
- Cassara left the CIA and joined the Treasury Department, working undercover as an arms dealer.
- In Operation Wayward, they exposed South African arms deals, making national news.
Operation Polar Cap
- Cassara investigated Operation Polar Cap, the largest anti-money laundering case of its time.
- It involved gold dealers in Los Angeles laundering drug money through complex schemes.