US Tobacco Giant Accused of Funding Terrorism Through North Korea Venture
A new lawsuit has been filed against British American Tobacco (BAT), one of the world's largest tobacco companies, alleging that it secretly collaborated with North Korea to fund terrorism. Hundreds of US military service members, civilians, and their families are suing BAT for unspecified damages, claiming that the company's illicit cigarette venture in North Korea provided millions of dollars to fuel the development of deadly weapons used against Americans.
The lawsuit claims that BAT knew its money was funding terrorism and continued the operation despite public warnings from the US government about North Korea's involvement in terrorist activities. The company had formed a joint venture with a North Korean tobacco company in 2001, which quietly continued even after the US government imposed sanctions on the country. In 2023, BAT entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and paid $629m in fines for conspiring to violate sanctions and bank fraud.
The lawsuit argues that BAT should be liable for damages because profits from the cigarette venture were used to fund the development of weapons of mass destruction by Iran's revolutionary guard and Hezbollah. These weapons were used in deadly attacks on US targets, including an airbase in Iraq and a missile attack in Kurdistan. The plaintiffs include service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as civilians and their loved ones.
BAT has maintained that it fell short of the highest standards expected of the company but claims to have taken significant steps to transform its compliance and ethics program. The company's previous CEO stated that adhering to rigorous compliance and ethics standards had been a top priority for BAT, and the current leadership acknowledges "historical business activities" led to these settlements.
The case is notable for its similarities with a recent US supreme court ruling that victims of a terrorist attack could not sue social media companies for damages. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit argue that BAT knowingly assisted in funding terrorism by continuing the operation despite public warnings, and seek accountability for conduct that allegedly enabled deadly attacks against Americans.
As the world grapples with the consequences of terrorism and global politics, questions arise about corporate responsibility and liability for supporting illicit activities. This case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability from companies operating in complex geopolitical environments.
A new lawsuit has been filed against British American Tobacco (BAT), one of the world's largest tobacco companies, alleging that it secretly collaborated with North Korea to fund terrorism. Hundreds of US military service members, civilians, and their families are suing BAT for unspecified damages, claiming that the company's illicit cigarette venture in North Korea provided millions of dollars to fuel the development of deadly weapons used against Americans.
The lawsuit claims that BAT knew its money was funding terrorism and continued the operation despite public warnings from the US government about North Korea's involvement in terrorist activities. The company had formed a joint venture with a North Korean tobacco company in 2001, which quietly continued even after the US government imposed sanctions on the country. In 2023, BAT entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and paid $629m in fines for conspiring to violate sanctions and bank fraud.
The lawsuit argues that BAT should be liable for damages because profits from the cigarette venture were used to fund the development of weapons of mass destruction by Iran's revolutionary guard and Hezbollah. These weapons were used in deadly attacks on US targets, including an airbase in Iraq and a missile attack in Kurdistan. The plaintiffs include service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as civilians and their loved ones.
BAT has maintained that it fell short of the highest standards expected of the company but claims to have taken significant steps to transform its compliance and ethics program. The company's previous CEO stated that adhering to rigorous compliance and ethics standards had been a top priority for BAT, and the current leadership acknowledges "historical business activities" led to these settlements.
The case is notable for its similarities with a recent US supreme court ruling that victims of a terrorist attack could not sue social media companies for damages. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit argue that BAT knowingly assisted in funding terrorism by continuing the operation despite public warnings, and seek accountability for conduct that allegedly enabled deadly attacks against Americans.
As the world grapples with the consequences of terrorism and global politics, questions arise about corporate responsibility and liability for supporting illicit activities. This case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability from companies operating in complex geopolitical environments.
! A major tobacco company is being sued for allegedly funding terrorism through a joint venture with North Korea? It's like something straight out of a spy thriller, but unfortunately, it's based on real events 
. I mean, we already knew that BAT had been fined $629m for conspiring to violate sanctions and bank fraud, but this takes the cake 
.
. The fact that profits from the cigarette venture were allegedly used to fund the development of deadly weapons of mass destruction by Iran's revolutionary guard and Hezbollah is just wild 
. It's time for BAT to take responsibility for its actions and provide some real accountability 
.
. We need more transparency and accountability from these corporations, or else we'll be seeing more lawsuits like this one coming down the pipeline 
. It's time to get serious about corporate responsibility and stop turning a blind eye to questionable practices 
.
can you even imagine if our favorite social media platforms were doing the same thing? 
BAT's $629m fine is basically a slap on the wrist considering what they've done 
The fact that a multi-billion dollar corporation like British American Tobacco can be accused of funding terrorism through its dealings with North Korea is a stark reminder of the blurred lines between corporate interests and national security. I mean, think about it - if BAT knew its money was being used to fund terrorist activities and yet continued to operate despite public warnings, what does that say about the regulatory environment? It's like they're playing a game of geopolitical whack-a-mole, where the stakes are human lives but the punishments are more in line with fines than meaningful consequences. 
last month! I visited this tiny town that's like a time capsule from the 80s and it was so cool 
. They had these old-school arcade games and vinyl record stores that made me feel like I was in a John Hughes movie 
. And have you ever tried Japanese ramen? It's life-changing 
. Anyway, back to this tobacco company stuff... isn't it wild how companies can be involved in all sorts of shady dealings and still manage to slide through with just a slap on the wrist? I mean, what even is a deferred prosecution agreement, right? 
How can a company like BAT get away with funding terrorism by secretly partnering with a NORTHERN KOREAN TOBACCO COMPANY?! It's DISGUSTING that they got a slap on the wrist and only had to pay $629 MILLION in fines! The fact that profits from this operation were used to fund WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION is just BREATHTAKING 
its crazy how some corps think they can operate outside the law and get away with it 
. And now hundreds of people are fighting back for their rights... I'm literally shook 
. Can't wait to see what happens in this case!
this is just getting outta hand... if you think that's bad imagine what would happen if we found out facebook or google had been secretly funding terrorism too 
. First it's North Korea, then Iran... can't they just follow basic human decency? It's like they think they're above the law or something 
. But no, we can't just turn a blind eye when our tax dollars are being used to fund terrorism. We need stricter regulations and more transparency from these corporate giants 
I'm so worried about this one... it's like, if you're gonna get caught red-handed funding terrorism, at least be honest about it instead of trying to hide behind some shady joint venture 
. BAT knew the risks and still went through with it? That's just crazy talk! 
. The fact that they kept this operation secret from the public is just mind-boggling 
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. Thats why its so importint that companies r transparent w/ their business practises, esp in geopolitic environments 
. This case needs 2 be looked into further, IMHO 
. Companies have a responsibility to operate with integrity and respect for human life, not just to line their pockets 
. BAT needs to own up to their mistakes, take responsibility for their actions, and make amends 
.
. They're basically saying "oh, we didn't know" or "we fell short", but come on, someone has to be held accountable 
. And yeah, let's not forget the $629m in fines they paid - that's just a drop in the bucket compared to what these people are going through 
. Transparency and accountability are just buzzwords - it's time for BAT to put their money where their mouth is 
. This lawsuit needs to be taken seriously ASAP