Latin American Democracy Defense Organization
FaceBook Twitter Blog in Spanish
In association with CIEMPRE (Center for the Research and Monitoring of Printed and Electronic Media)
An NGO dedicated to the defense of Freedom and Democracy in Latin America.

Newsletters
 
Search Archives:          

News Article
US fines 'Hezbollah' bank $102 mn for laundering in Latin America

Published in: globalpost.com - June 27, 2013

 

A Lebanese bank accused of laundering money from drugs and other operations for clients tied to Hezbollah militants agreed Tuesday to pay US authorities $102 million to settle the charges.

Beirut-based Lebanese Canadian Bank was singled out in February 2011 for allegedly moving hundreds of millions of dollars for criminal groups and traffickers operating in Latin America, West Africa and the Middle East.

Some of the customers it served were closely linked to Hezbollah, which Washington has blacklisted as a “terrorist organization.”

US authorities had already taken control of $150 million the bank set aside for a possible penalty as it was being bought in 2011 by another Beirut bank, Societe Generale de Banque au Liban.

The US Department of Justice said that under the deal announced Tuesday, $102 million would be forfeited and the rest returned to Societe Generale de Banque au Liban.

Also fined Tuesday was the Hassan Ayash Exchange Company, one of two money changers accused of working with LCB in the laundering schemes.

Hassan Ayash Exchange agreed to forfeit $720,000 for its role.

“This settlement is significant and addresses the role the Lebanese Canadian Bank played in facilitating illicit money movement from the United States to West Africa to Hezbollah-controlled money laundering channels,” Michele Leonhart of the US Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement.

“Drug trafficking profits and terror financing often grow and flow together,” she said.

 
Email This ArticleEmail This Article
Printer FriendlyPrinter Friendly
Increase Text SizeIncrease Text Size
Decrease Text SizeDecrease Text Size
Previous PagePrevious Page
CommentsComments
Disponible También en Español
Share
Hits: This article has been viewed 908 times.
Previous News ArticleNews Article Anterior |Next News ArticleNext News Article
• Recent Articles

0 Comments by our visitors Post Comment Post Comment

Post Comment
All fields are required. Your email address will not be visible in the website.
 
Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Comment:
Please enter the verification code:
Rating: