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---
---
title: Lebanon
aliases:
- Lebanon
created: 2026-05-17
updated: 2026-05-17
category: "Country"
summary: "Lebanon is a country in the Middle East that has been a focal point for various international political, military, and illicit activities, particularly during the 1980s."
tags:
- Place
- MiddleEast
- DrugTrafficking
- CIA
- Intelligence
- ColdWar
- 1980s
- IranContra
summary: "Lebanon is a country in the Middle East that became a focal point for intelligence operations, drug trafficking, and international arms dealing during the 1980s civil war period."
---
[[Lebanon]] is a country in the Middle East that has been a focal point for various international political, military, and illicit activities, particularly during the 1980s. Its strategic location and internal conflicts made it a significant area for intelligence operations, arms dealing, and drug trafficking.[^1]
Lebanon is a country in the Middle East that has been a focal point for various international political, military, and illicit activities, particularly during the 1980s. Its strategic location and internal conflicts made it a significant area for intelligence operations, arms dealing, and drug trafficking.[^1]
### Political and Military Landscape
@ -18,20 +32,19 @@ In 1990, an accord was reached that granted Christians and Muslims equal represe
Various intelligence agencies and organizations were involved in [[Lebanon]]'s drug trade:
* **[[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]:** This company, reportedly a [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout, was involved in [[Lebanon]] to arrange the release of a prisoner and discussed a multi-billion dollar financial transaction for the country's reconstruction. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] had a companion company, Euramae Trading, which operated throughout the Middle East and was involved in the drug trade as an [[National Security Council|NSC]]-directed operation.[^1]
* **[[Euramae Trading Company]]:** Described as a [[DEA|DEA]]/[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] "front" in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], Euramae was a transit point for heroin, cash, documents, and bootleg computer software moving along the Beirut-Nicosia-U.S. pipeline. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have handled communications protocol and financial transactions for operations in [[Lebanon]], including those involving [[Maurice Ghanem]] and [[George K. Pender]].[^1]
* **U.S. Government Presence:** The [[United States|U.S. government]]'s presence in [[Lebanon]] was significant. [[Lester Coleman]], a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] covert intelligence officer, ran a network of agents in Beirut to find American hostages. He claimed that the [[DEA|DEA]], along with Cypriot, German, and British police, ran a "drug sting operation" code-named "Khourah" that involved delivering heroin from the Bekaa Valley to the [[United States]]. This operation allegedly used Pan Am Flight 103 as a "controlled delivery" flight, which later tragically exploded over Scotland.[^1]
* **Syrian Involvement:** [[Syria]]'s president [[Hafez al-Assad]] closed ranks with the [[White House]] after Desert Storm, and [[Syria]] maintained control of the Bekaa Valley, including drug ports. Allegations surfaced that [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, provided [[Oliver North]] with drug profits to purchase arms for the [[Contras]].[^1]
* [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]: This company, reportedly a [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout, was involved in Lebanon to arrange the release of a prisoner and discussed a multi-billion dollar financial transaction for the country's reconstruction. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that FIDCO had a companion company, Euramae Trading, which operated throughout the Middle East and was involved in the drug trade as an NSC-directed operation.[^1]
* [[Euramae Trading Company]]: Described as a [[DEA]]/[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] "front" in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], Euramae was a transit point for heroin, cash, documents, and bootleg computer software moving along the Beirut-Nicosia-U.S. pipeline. Michael Riconosciuto claimed to have handled communications protocol and financial transactions for operations in Lebanon, including those involving [[Maurice Ghanem]] and [[George K. Pender]].[^1]
* U.S. Government Presence: The U.S. government's presence in Lebanon was significant. [[Lester Coleman]], a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] covert intelligence officer, ran a network of agents in Beirut to find American hostages. He claimed that the DEA, along with Cypriot, German, and British police, ran a "drug sting operation" code-named "Khourah" that involved delivering heroin from the Bekaa Valley to the [[United States]]. This operation allegedly used Pan Am Flight 103 as a "controlled delivery" flight, which later tragically exploded over Scotland.[^1]
* Syrian Involvement: [[Syria]]'s president [[Hafez al-Assad]] closed ranks with the [[White House]] after Desert Storm, and Syria maintained control of the Bekaa Valley, including drug ports. Allegations surfaced that [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, provided [[Oliver North]] with drug profits to purchase arms for the [[Contras]].[^1]
### Key Individuals and Events
* **[[Amin Gamayel]]:** President of [[Lebanon]] who received a letter from [[George K. Pender]] of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] regarding reconstruction efforts.[^1]
* **[[Maurice Ghanem]]:** A figure involved in meetings concerning [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s participation in the redevelopment of [[Lebanon]], and under whom [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have worked.[^1]
* **[[Michael T. Hurley]]:** [[DEA|DEA]] Country Attache in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], who had overall responsibility for Euramae Trading Company and its initiative to sell [[PROMIS]] software to Middle Eastern countries.[^1]
* **[[Werner Tony Asmar]]:** A German Lebanese intelligence agent who worked with [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] and was killed in a bomb explosion in Beirut after getting involved in the alleged drug operation.[^1]
* **[[Ian Stuart Spiro]]:** Lived in Beirut during the 1970s and 1980s, making contacts with Lebanese religious leaders and the Islamic Jihad. His death was linked to a spy network and the [[Iran-Contra Affair]].[^1]
* [[Amin Gamayel]]: President of Lebanon who received a letter from [[George K. Pender]] of FIDCO regarding reconstruction efforts.[^1]
* [[Maurice Ghanem]]: A figure involved in meetings concerning FIDCO's participation in the redevelopment of Lebanon, and under whom Michael Riconosciuto claimed to have worked.[^1]
* [[Michael T. Hurley]]: DEA Country Attache in Nicosia, Cyprus, who had overall responsibility for Euramae Trading Company and its initiative to sell [[PROMIS]] software to Middle Eastern countries.[^1]
* [[Werner Tony Asmar]]: A German Lebanese intelligence agent who worked with the DIA and was killed in a bomb explosion in Beirut after getting involved in the alleged drug operation.[^1]
* [[Ian Stuart Spiro]]: Lived in Beirut during the 1970s and 1980s, making contacts with Lebanese religious leaders and the Islamic Jihad. His death was linked to a spy network and the [[Iran-Contra Affair]].[^1]
---
### Footnotes
[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.