---
category: Intelligence & Government
summary: In December 1980, Ghows delivered $56 million to Ari Ben-Menashe in Guatemala.
tags:
- Person
- NSA
- Israel
- Diplomat
---

[Faissal Ghows](/people/faissal-ghows/) was an assistant to the chief of [Saudi](/places/saudi-arabia/) Security and Intelligence. He was a former classmate of [Ari Ben-Menashe](/people/ari-ben-menashe/) at the American Community School in [Tehran](/places/tehran/), [Iran](/places/iran/), where his father was the [Saudi](/places/saudi-arabia/) ambassador.[^1]

In December 1980, [Ghows](/people/faissal-ghows/) delivered $56 million to [Ari Ben-Menashe](/people/ari-ben-menashe/) in [Guatemala](/places/guatemala/). This money was part of a deal arranged by the [Americans](/places/united-states/) for the release of [American](/places/united-states/) hostages in [Iran](/places/iran/). Of the total, $40 million was in bank checks drawn on [Banque Worms](/organizations/banque-worms/), and $16 million was in cash. [Ghows](/people/faissal-ghows/) also provided withdrawal papers from [Banque Worms](/organizations/banque-worms/) to legitimize the transaction.[^1]

[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992.