| Federal agents are investigating an unlicensed money-transfer business accused of illegally sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to countries in North Africa. Law enforcement sources tell The Washington post that the business operated out of the Eritrean civic center in Northwest Washington. U-S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents seized records and computers from the business this week, though no arrests were made. Eritrean and Ethiopian immigrants say local people have used the money-transmitting service for years to send funds to friends and relatives overseas. But authorities say the Eritrean skirted regulations that include required reporting of suspicious financial transactions and checking names of customers against a list that includes alleged terrorists. |