News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2011
Contact: DEA Public Affairs
Number: 202-307-7977

DEA Investigation Leads to OFAC Designation of Lebanese-Based Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Network

JAN 26 -- WASHINGTON – An ongoing DEA investigation led to actions by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designating Lebanese narcotics trafficker Ayman Joumaa, as well as nine individuals and 19 entities connected to his drug trafficking and money laundering organization as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act).

Ayman Joumaa has coordinated the transportation, distribution, and sale of multi-ton shipments of cocaine from South America and has laundered the proceeds from the sale of cocaine in Europe and the Middle East, according to investigations led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Operating in Lebanon, West Africa, Panama and Colombia, Joumaa and his organization launder proceeds from their illicit activities – as much as $200 million per month – through various channels, including bulk cash smuggling operations and Lebanese exchange houses. As a result of today’s designations, U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting financial or commercial transactions with these individuals and entities and any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen.

“Ayman Joumaa and his organization can no longer hide behind front companies with their drug trafficking profits,â€