Episode 032: Brig Barker - Arabic and Blood Diamonds




FBI Retired Case File Review with Jerri Williams show

Summary: <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/JERRI-WILLIAMS-iTUNES.jpg"></a>Retired agent Brig Barker served in the FBI for twenty years. As a combat veteran and a highly respected linguist with full fluency in Arabic and a professional working proficiency in German, during his Bureau career Brig was frequently deployed overseas to work on major counterterrorism matters. From 1998 until his recent retirement, Brig was assigned to operational investigations in Nairobi, Kenya; Kampala, Uganda; Cairo, Egypt; London, England; Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Tunis, Tunisia; to name a few. In this episode of <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FBI Retired Case File Review</a>, Brig Barker reviews his deployment to Sierra Leone, where he was tasked with officially opening the FBI Attaché office there and establishing liaison with local leaders and diamond merchants. He initiated the investigation in to allegations that profits from the sale of blood diamonds were being funneled to terrorist organizations. Allegedly, diamonds were being used for this purpose due to the gem’s high value and portability. Brig now operates his own global security consulting company, Counterterrorism Consultants International (<a href="http://ct-consultants.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ct-consultants.com</a>). Brig also conducts free webinars regarding terrorism issues in America.<br> <br>  <br> Special Agent (Retired)<br> Brig Barker<br> 7/9/1995 – 3/23/2016<br> <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Baker-Brig.jpg"></a><br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br> Brig was deployed to Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2006 to establish the FBI’s presence in the country. The following are links to major news articles about the illicit blood diamond trade:<br> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2001/11/02/al-qaeda-cash-tied-to-diamond-trade/93abd66a-5048-469a-9a87-5d2efb565a62/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Al Qaeda Cash Tied to Diamond Trade</a><br> <a href="http://time.com/blood-diamonds/">Why the Blood Diamond Trade Won’t Die</a><br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br>  <br> Jerri Williams, a retired FBI agent, author and podcaster, attempts to relive her glory days by writing crime fiction and hosting FBI Retired Case File Review, a true crime podcast available for subscription on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fbi-retired-case-file-review/id1082012464?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">iTunes</a> and <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jerri-williams/fbi-retired-case-file-review?refid=stpr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stitcher</a>. Her novel—<a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/books/pay-to-play/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pay To Play</a>— about a female agent investigating corruption in the Philadelphia strip club industry is available at amazon.com.  <br> <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/PayToPlay-Square.png"></a><br>  <br> <br> This episode was sponsored by <a href="https://fbiretired.com/">FBIRetired.com</a> – the only on-line directory made available to the general public featuring “retired” FBI AGENTS / ANALYSTS interested in showcasing their skills to secure business opportunities.<br> <a href="http://jerriwilliams.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FBIRetired.com-Logo.png" rel="attachment wp-att-569"></a><br> <br>  <br>  <br>