---
category: Other
summary: CIA-linked figure in Lebanon who worked with Michael Riconosciuto and George
  K. Pender on FIDCO's redevelopment operations.
tags:
- Person
---

[Maurice Ghanem](/people/maurice-ghanem/) was a figure involved in meetings concerning [FIDCO](/organizations/first-intercontinental-development-corporation/)'s participation in the redevelopment of [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/). He participated in meetings held in Beirut in February and May 1983, alongside the Chamouns and Mourad Baroudy, to discuss [FIDCO](/organizations/first-intercontinental-development-corporation/)'s role.[^1]

[Michael Riconosciuto](/people/michael-riconosciuto/) claimed to have worked directly under Maurice Ghanem and [George K. Pender](/people/george-k-pender/) in [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/). Riconosciuto also stated that Maurice had a relative, either a brother or a cousin, who was a senior [DEA](/organizations/dea/) official with [Michael T. Hurley](/people/michael-t-hurley/). This relative was later identified as [Fred Ghanem](/people/fred-ghanem/), who had special knowledge of Lebanese communities in Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles, and whose knowledge led to an increase in [DEA](/organizations/dea/)-controlled deliveries of heroin into the [United States](/places/united-states/).[^1]

[Michael Riconosciuto](/people/michael-riconosciuto/) also stated that Maurice Ghanem was "agency," meaning [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/), in [Lebanon](/places/lebanon/), and that he, Maurice, and [George K. Pender](/people/george-k-pender/) worked together.[^1]

---

[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010.