ISIS and Toyota Trucks News: U.S. Treasury Digs into Details of Terror Group's Toyota Trucks Use
Following the release of propaganda videos wherein the Islamic State flaunts Toyota vehicles, the U.S. Treasury has raised questions about how the extremists acquired the trucks.
Toyota is the world's second largest carmaker, and according to ABC News, the auto giant is unaware of how the jihadists got a hold of the large numbers of trucks sported in the propaganda videos.
On the other hand, Toyota said in a statement that it will definitely be "supporting" the investigation spearheaded by the Terror Financing branch of the Treasury Department. The inquiry is actually part of the United States' efforts to keep the terror group from obtaining and making use of Western-produced goods.
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Ed Lewis, Toyota's director of public policy and communications who resides in Washington said, "We briefed Treasury on Toyota's supply chains in the Middle East and the procedures that Toyota has in place to protect supply chain integrity." He further explained that the company has very strict measures and policies when it comes to selling their products to buyers who are deemed to convert the vehicles into models that can be used for terrorist purposes.
Lewis noted that while the company will join hands with the U.S. government in its efforts to get to the bottom of the problem, it would be impossible for the automaker and its people to track those vehicles that were either stolen or purchased from their outlets but were later re-sold by third parties.
Propaganda videos from the forces in Iraq, Syria, and Libya all flaunt Toyota Hilux pickups and Toyota Land Cruisers. The truck beds have all been loaded with weapons.
According to Iraqi Ambassador to the United States, Lukma Faily, while the ISIS has acquired older models, his government believes that the terrorists have now taken a hold of "hundreds" of newer models in the past several years.
Meanwhile, CNN reports that the Treasury Department has not yet given further details as to which companies it has inquired upon to get a clearer view of the terror group's financial activities.
