South American drug barons funding al-Qaida

Latin American drug barons have been exposed as a crucial source of funds for al-Qaida by paying them to ensure the safe passage of cocaine across North Africa and towards Europe.
Islamist rebels familiar with the terrain of the Sahara have struck deals under which they provide armed security escorts for drug traffickers in return for a slice of the profits. Counter-terrorism experts said that the terrorists belong to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The group killed Edwin Dyer, a British tourist, last year. Read Article