A former TSA agent’s explosive testimony reveals how millions in cash were smuggled weekly through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport while law enforcement stood by and watched, exposing a massive fraud operation that may have funneled taxpayer dollars to terrorist groups overseas.
Story Highlights
- Former TSA agent Liz Jax witnessed Somali men routinely carrying suitcases filled with millions in cash through MSP Airport security from 2016 onward
- Despite TSA notifications to law enforcement about the suspicious cash smuggling, minimal follow-up action was taken
- The cash movements are linked to massive COVID aid fraud schemes that may have stolen half of Minnesota’s $18 billion in federal funds since 2018
- Funds were allegedly funneled through hawalas to Somalia, including al-Shabaab controlled regions where terrorist groups demand cuts
- Trump administration has launched expanded federal raids targeting the fraud network, calling it the “tip of a very large iceberg”
TSA Insider Exposes Years of Ignored Cash Smuggling
Former TSA agent Liz Jax worked at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport from 2016 and witnessed a disturbing pattern that should alarm every American taxpayer. She described watching Somali men routinely carry suitcases filled with millions of dollars in cash through security checkpoints, often traveling in pairs with proper documentation. Despite TSA pulling these bags for private screening and notifying law enforcement, virtually no meaningful action followed. This represents a catastrophic failure of federal oversight that allowed potential terrorist funding to flow unimpeded for years.
Minnesota’s Unprecedented Fraud Crisis Exposed
The cash smuggling operation connects to what may be the largest state-level fraud scheme in American history. Prosecutors estimate that half of Minnesota’s $18 billion in federal funds distributed since 2018 may have been stolen, predominantly by Somali-American defendants exploiting COVID aid programs. The Feeding Our Future nonprofit alone defrauded over $300 million in child nutrition funds, resulting in 57 convictions by 2025. This represents not just theft but a direct assault on programs meant to help vulnerable children and families.
The fraud expanded beyond nutrition programs into childcare, housing, and autism services, with suspects billing for nonexistent services while living lavish lifestyles. FBI investigations revealed cell phone tracking showing luxury travel to Dubai and Kenya, while daycare centers like Ali’s in south Minneapolis billed over $1 million for fake childcare services. The funds were systematically moved overseas through informal money transfer systems called hawalas, exploiting Minnesota’s large Somali-American community.
Terror Funding Connection Raises National Security Concerns
The most disturbing aspect of this fraud involves potential terrorism funding through hawala networks reaching al-Shabaab controlled regions in Somalia. Investigative reports confirm that even legitimate remittances to these areas are taxed by terrorist groups, meaning stolen American taxpayer dollars may have directly funded anti-American terror activities. This represents a clear threat to national security that previous administrations failed to address adequately, undermining both fiscal responsibility and homeland security.
Trump Administration Launches Aggressive Enforcement Response
President Trump’s administration has responded with expanded federal raids throughout December 2025, targeting Minneapolis-area businesses and suspects involved in the fraud networks. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced massive investigations into childcare fraud, while FBI Director Kash Patel described previous arrests as just “the tip of a very large iceberg.” The administration has surged federal personnel and resources to dismantle these networks, representing the kind of decisive action Americans expect when their tax dollars are stolen.
The enforcement efforts have created political tensions with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s administration, which faces criticism for allowing such massive fraud to flourish under state oversight. With 92 defendants charged and 82 being Somali-American, the scope of the conspiracy demonstrates how organized fraud networks exploited inadequate state controls and federal oversight failures. This represents exactly the kind of government accountability and border security enforcement that conservative voters demanded in 2024.
Sources:
Federal fraud raids in Minnesota largely target Somali-American suspects
Millions of dollars in suitcases fly out of MSP, but why?
Fraud ignored: Former Homeland Security investigator reveals how fraud cases weren’t prosecuted
Minnesota’s top political stories of 2025
‘Tip of a very large iceberg,’ Feds surge response to Minnesota fraud investigations
