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Assad Exposed: Twenty Million Dollars Fly from Damascus to Moscow
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Using Diplomatic Luggage to Transfer Funds Confirms Involvement of Multiple Official Institutions in Organized Smuggling Operations for Former Syrian Regime
A secret document leaked from the Central Bank of Syria revealed a massive financial transfer of 20 million US dollars to Moscow, using Syrian Airlines as a front to pass funds, in a blatant violation of international sanctions against the previous regime.
The document dated November 22, 2022 highlights intriguing details about sanctions circumvention mechanisms, including direct instructions from the Central Bank's governor to the Syrian Aviation Corporation's general manager to exempt a shipment from all financial fees and costs.
The document discloses that the shipment consisted of eight diplomatic bags weighing a total of 210 kilograms, designated for the Russian "RFC" bank, via a flight from Damascus Airport to Vnukovo Airport in Moscow.
Banking experts indicated that using diplomatic bags to transfer large financial amounts suggests a comprehensive network for circumventing international sanctions, involving multiple government institutions from the former regime.
Informed sources confirm this is not an isolated incident, with international bodies previously documenting similar operations where the former regime used Russian airlines and banks to circumvent imposed sanctions.
Observers emphasize the operation's timing occurs amid intensified Western sanctions on Russia due to its Ukraine invasion, indicating close cooperation between Moscow and Damascus in attempting to break their financial isolation.
Economic reports highlight these practices underscore the necessity of strengthening financial transfer surveillance and enhancing international cooperation to prevent sanctions evasion by rogue regimes.
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