[[Maurice Ghanem]] was a figure involved in meetings concerning [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s participation in the redevelopment of [[Lebanon]]. He participated in meetings held in Beirut in February and May 1983, alongside the Chamouns and Mourad Baroudy, to discuss [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s role.[^1] [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have worked directly under Maurice Ghanem and [[George K. Pender]] in [[Lebanon]]. Riconosciuto also stated that Maurice had a relative, either a brother or a cousin, who was a senior [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] official with [[Michael T. Hurley]]. This relative was later identified as [[Fred Ghanem]], who had special knowledge of Lebanese communities in Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles, and whose knowledge led to an increase in [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]-controlled deliveries of heroin into the [[United States]].[^1] [[Michael Riconosciuto]] also stated that Maurice Ghanem was "agency," meaning [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], in [[Lebanon]], and that he, Maurice, and [[George K. Pender]] worked together.[^1] --- ### Footnotes [^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.