Bank of Credit and Commerce International

The BCCI was a financial institution that became embroiled in a major scandal involving money laundering, drug trafficking, and covert operations. Its collapse had far-reaching implications and was a significant focus of Danny Casolaro's "The Octopus" investigation.¹

Involvement in Illicit Activities

Adnan Khashoggi, an international arms merchant, borrowed money for arms purchases related to the Iran-Contra Affair from BCCI accounts, with Saudi and U.S. backing.¹ Lester Coleman, a DIA covert intelligence officer, was paid in travelers checks sent from the Luxembourg branch of the now-collapsed BCCI.¹

Danny Casolaro was investigating the BCCI scandal as part of his broader "The Octopus" probe, believing it was interconnected with the PROMIS Software Scandal and the Iran-Contra Affair. He obtained papers referring to Iran-Contra arms deals, including photocopies of checks drawn on BCCI accounts for Adnan Khashoggi and Manucher Ghorbanifar, from his confidante Bob Bickel.¹

Bill Turner, a friend and confidante of Danny Casolaro, claimed to have seen papers from Casolaro that connected Oliver North and BCCI.¹

Chronology

1972: Agha Hasan Abedi organizes BCCI with the intention of forming the Third World's first multinational bank.²

1975: Using Abbas Gokal as a front, BCCI attempts to acquire Chelsea National Bank in New York City. Regulators reject the bid due to concerns about BCCI's involvement.²

1976: BCCI opens its Cayman Islands subsidiary ICIC, which becomes BCCI's repository for loans to privileged insiders.²

1977: Eugene Holley introduces Bert Lance to Abedi.²

1978: Ghaith R. Pharaon finalizes his acquisition of National Bank of Georgia from Bert Lance with Abedi's help. Abedi pays off Lance's $3.5-million bank loan. BCCI orchestrates a hostile bid for Financial General Bankshares of Washington, D.C. with Lance's help. Joseph E. Vaez submits a report on BCCI characterizing it as dangerously out of control. The Securities and Exchange Commission files suit against BCCI, Abedi, Lance, and others in connection with the purchase of Financial General Bankshares stock.²

1979: The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan, making Pakistan a key strategic priority for the United States.²

1981: Regulators approve the sale of Financial General to Middle Eastern investors connected with BCCI, based on Clark Clifford's assurances of no link between BCCI and Financial General Bankshares.²

1982: Lance introduces Abedi to Jimmy Carter. BCCI illegally acquires Independence Bank of Encino using Ghaith Pharaon as a front man. BCCI helps Adnan Khashoggi finance arms sales to Iran as part of the Reagan Administration's Iran-Contra Affair. BCCI suffers over $440 million in losses from options trading through its subsidiary Capcom.²

1986: The Central Intelligence Agency issues a report stating that BCCI has owned First American Bank since 1982.²

1987: Pharaon becomes a partner in David L. Paul's CenTrust Savings Bank of Miami. First American Bank buys the National Bank of Georgia from Ghaith Pharaon for $227 million.²

1988: Clifford and Robert Altman sell their stock in First American to Mohammed Hammoud. Abedi's heart attack ends his direct control of BCCI, and Swaleh Naqvi becomes chief executive. Amjad Awan tells investigators that BCCI owns First American and National Bank of Georgia. American Customs agents arrest five BCCI bankers in Tampa, Florida, along with other bankers and narcotics traffickers in London and the U.S. on money laundering charges.²

1989: Jack Blum visits Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau to persuade him to take on the BCCI case.²

1990: BCCI pleads guilty to money laundering in Tampa, Florida, forfeiting $14 million. The first Price Waterhouse audit reveals a $1.7 billion black hole in the bank's accounts. A second Price Waterhouse audit details thousands of irregular transactions and confirms BCCI's control of First American.²

1991: Sheikh Zayed acquires 77 percent control of BCCI. A Florida jury convicts five Tampa BCCI officers of conspiring to launder cocaine profits. The Federal Reserve orders BCCI to sell illegally acquired shares in First American Bank. Regulators worldwide seize BCCI offices, placing over 75 percent of the bank's assets in government hands. A New York City State grand jury indicts BCCI, Abedi, and Naqvi for fraud, bribery, grand larceny, and money laundering. The Federal Reserve Board fines BCCI $200 million for illegally acquiring control of First American Bank, National Bank of Georgia, and CenTrust Savings. Clifford and Altman resign from First American. BCCI's liquidators plead guilty and agree to forfeit $550 million.²

1992: Khalid bin Mahfouz is indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. Kamal Adham pleads guilty in New York and agrees to cooperate with Morgenthau and the Justice Department. Clifford and Altman are indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau and a federal grand jury.²