UAE Shuts Down Alleged Nuclear Front Company

The United Arab Emirates has frozen the assets of a computer company that was allegedly part of Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan’s nuclear network, according to the U.A.E. Central Bank (see GSN, March 3).

The Dubai-based SMB Group was founded by Sri Lankan businessman Buhary Syed Abu Tahir. U.S. President George W. Bush said in February that SMB was a front for nuclear proliferation activities and called Tahir the “chief financial officer and money launderer” for Khan’s network.

“All SMB-related accounts have been frozen,” U.A.E. Central Bank Governor Sultan Nasser al-Suweidi said. “The U.A.E. has shut down the firm and has formed a committee to investigate this company,” he added.

Earlier this year, Tahir was named as the head of Gulf Technical Industries; diplomats in Vienna said the Dubai company might have been the headquarters of a nuclear black market.

Tahir is under investigation by the Malaysian government for his nuclear activities, but Malaysian officials said his movement was not restricted (Reuters/Yahoo!News, April 4).

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