Since when exactly was the Albanian Mafia an "Al Qaeda Subsidiary"?

Despite all the talk about "Al Qaeda's wash trades" etc, there is no specific reference here that credibly links AQ to any of this. Lots of peripheral reference to Justice Dept reports, but do you see any specific quotes or citations? Are there any credible, recognized experts on AQ that corroborate the allegations?

Why would an effort to "manipulate prices down" necessarily constitute an attack, let alone "economic warfare"?