Two firms designated by the U.S. Treasury for their alleged roles in an international drug trafficking and money laundering ring denied Thursday involvement in illegal activities.
The U.S. government took the decision Wednesday to label Ayman Joumaa, as well as nine people and 19 companies connected with him as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers in a racket which reportedly netted as much as $200 million a month.
Two Lebanese currency traders, Hassan Ayash Exchange and Elissa Exchange, which were both named in the Treasury’s designation, denied knowledge of Joumaa’s activities.
“We are terribly shocked by this news. I don’t know how our company’s name got involved in this work and the reports,” Iman Kharoubi, of Elissa Exchange, told The Daily Star.
“We work in Lebanon [and The Democratic Republic of] Congo and Benin in Africa. But we do not know who Ayman Joumaa is; we don’t have anything to do with him.”
Hassan Ayash, the owner of the exchange firm, denied any wrongdoing, but did admit to knowing Joumaa, who the U.S. designated under the Kingpin Act and will now struggle to access international financial transactions.
“For us it was a surprise today to hear about this story,” Ayash told The Daily Star. “We have no knowledge of where Ayman Joumaa is currently and we have no contact with him. But we know him in person.”
Beirut’s Caesar’s Park Hotel was also designated by the Treasury after it was alleged Joumaa, the manager and CEO, “uses [the hotel] as a location to broker drug trafficking and money laundering activities.” The hotel declined to comment on the accusation.
Both exchange companies have contacted Lebanon’s Central Bank for advice following financial sanctions, but Ayash was not unduly worried about the potential negative effect U.S. punitive measures could have on business.
“Actually there would be no consequences whatsoever on our work, since our work is transparent and we work with several banks in the U.S.,” he said.
Kharoubi was less optimistic. “Our transactions are clear and transparent, but our work would be terribly affected,” he said. “Our transactions go through several U.S. banks and car companies all over the United States. Under U.S. government supervision, our products and cargos are monitored within the United States.”
Washington has said it would reconsider its financial support for Lebanese institutions if a cabinet blessed by Hezbollah is formed by Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati.
Both firms said the financial measures taken against them were unlikely to be linked to cabinet uncertainty.
“We are not affiliated with any party in the country. I do not think that this is related to regional politics,” Kharoubi said.
“It is too early yet, since the news just came in, to actually know if there are any political and economic indications in the American reports,” Ayash added. “We cannot say whether this action is related to the recent developments in Lebanon.”
The United States has already blacklisted several Lebanese companies for their suspected links to Hezbollah. – Additional reporting by Van Megeurditchian
Source: The Daily Star
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