Posted on 08/04/2002 5:02:01 PM PDT by Pokey78
A MILLIONAIRE diamond-smuggler closely linked to a notorious arms dealer was arrested in Italy at the weekend on suspicion of supplying weapons to al-Qaeda. Sanjivan Ruprah, who is Kenyan-born, was picked up near Milan, which investigators say is al-Qaeda’s main European headquarters. He was said to be travelling on a fake Belgian passport with an unnamed woman, believed to be his sister, who was using British documents. Mr Ruprah’s name features prominently on a United Nations list of those banned from international flights because of links to arms and diamond-trafficking in Africa, as is his close associate, the Russian businessman Victor Bout. British and US Intelligence allege that Mr Bout was the main arms supplier to the Taleban. Mr Ruprah was on the run after fleeing bail in Belgium, and the Italian police said: “We all know about this man, who is an international arms-trafficker.” Detectives say that they found incriminating documents during their search.
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Ibrahim Bah, a former fighter in Afghanistan and southern Lebanon is the principle Muslim diamond dealer in West Africa. Bah met Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, a top Bin Ladin advisor,in Liberia in 1998. Most of the stones from this area end up in Belgium.
Israel imports 89% of its diamond rough from Belgium, the UK and Switzerland. The UK imports 41% of its rough from Switzerland. Switzerland has no diamond mines and "officially" imports almost no uncut diamonds.
In May of 2001, President Bush signed an executive order banning the import of rough diamonds from this area.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news
So the question is, why did it take the election of Bush for this EO to be signed? Who was profitting from the trade?
Belgian authorities have already taken various legal steps on the basis of their own investigation and information provided by the UN and the sector itself. These measures include, in particular, the issuing by Belgium of an international warrant for the arrest ofVictor Bout and the arrest of the Lebanese diamond merchants Samih Ossailly and Sanjivan Ruprah, the right-hand man of Victor Bout . Incidentally, on the basis of today's UN report, the Antwerp public prosecutor's office immediately launched a criminal investigation into the firm Limo Diamonds, which is named in the report.
UN Security Council Report:
Case study: Limo DiamondsLimo Diamonds is a rough diamond trading and polishing company based in Antwerp and Tel Aviv.
Its Antwerp address is Office 214, Diamond Club, Pelikanstraat 62.
Limo is a member of a diamond bourse and banks with the Antwerpse Diamantbank.
Its office in Tel Aviv is Spark Diamonds Ltd., Diamond Exchange, Rm 1405-6, Ramat Gan.
The directors of the two companies are Moshe Fisher and Israel Fisher.
The Mechanism has been able to put together a chain of information and evidence that links Limo Diamonds to the purchase of embargoed diamonds from a man who was previously said to be the largest illicit diamond dealer in Luanda, Jose Francisco,known "Chico".
Francisco is a known diamond buyer in Angola,identified by ASCorp Security as the single largest illicit buyer in Luanda. In an attempt to curb his illicitactivities, Francisco was invited to join ASCorp as alicensed diamond buyer and did so in July 2001,bringing with him his group of 10 buyers based principally in Lucapa.
The smuggling activities referred to in this case relate to the period before JoseFrancisco joined ASCorp.
It is not known whether the diamonds in the case originate from UNITA sources or other sources in Angola.In tracking Francisco's activities, ASCorp learned that he was selling his diamonds through the CentralAfrican Republic and gave the Mechanism informationconcerning several parcels which had been exported to Antwerp, allegedly through a middleman known as C. Van Tures.
The Mechanism carried out a probe into the activities of Mr. Van Tures to further determine whether he was trading embargoed gems.
In the Central African Republic, no trace of his legal presence could be found. The Central African Republic did not answer the Mechanism's requests for information on any diamond exports allegedly made by Mr. Van Tures to Antwerp.
Van Tures's trades were made from January toSeptember 2000, while the Bangui diamond exchangewas closed. The Mechanism identified a total of 50,000carats exported by this middleman to Limo Diamondsat a value of $18 million.
http://www.niza.nl/fataltransactions/docs/angola/un9april02.pdf
Btw...Gaydamak is tied to the guy who fixed the Olympics , Marc Rich and Danny Yatom, Barak's Mossad chief.
Interesting how Lev Leviev knew who was selling diamonds to some nasty people and did nothing about it but invited the smugglers into his business (ASCorp).
More details here:
As it so happens, Mr. Leviev is a very close personal friend of someone in my immediate family. He is a very fine gentleman, and a good citizen. He is not a criminal. So it is therefore possible for me to ask him this very question.
If you have some real evidence that he has committed crimes, let's hear it and I can tell him to his face. Otherwise admit that you don't know what the hell you are talking about.
LOL. Bet your comment starts the recording again.
If you have some real evidence that he has committed crimes, let's hear it and I can tell him to his face. Otherwise admit that you don't know what the hell you are talking about.
Haven't you read larry's posts, he donates to Jewish charities. Damning in the view of an antisemite.
Next thing you'll try to tell me Maurice Templesman isn't a tax evader.
I wonder how Mr. Leviev would feel and what he would do, if he knew he was being unfairly slandered, based on no evidence, at an internet website. Hmmmmm.
He probably can't do that, probablynot reading the post. He's explained he doesn't talk to those of Yehuda's religion on FR.
If it wasn't for Lied pinging me when he writes about a Jew, I would have thought they caugt the guy who fixed the skating medal.
Pinging Jews to the Jew threads, when he won't talk to them.
That's particularly bizarre behaivior.
Seems lots of people involved. Some just in the biz as it has worked for decades. Others with grander designs.
Keep up the good work. I'm wondering if that Russian guy really fixed the Olympics, or was just big-mouthing. Anyway, perhaps leverage to spill the beans on other stuff. Fixing the Olympics? Dang good PG-rated drama crime. Should make an interesting movie.
An international arrest warrant, number 0019292016, was issued for Arkadi Gaidamak (Gaydamak) on 11th January 2001. Nevertheless, it appears that Gaidamak currently enjoys the protection of Israel. Well-placed sources have suggested that he continues to travel freely between Israel and Angola, to South America and into the UK. . .In 1998, Gaidamak legally changed his name in Israel to Arye Barlev. In early 2000, the Tel Aviv newspaper Yedi'ot Aharonot's Leshabat supplement, reported that 15% of the shares of the Israeli public company Africa Israel, which were controlled by businessman Lev Leviev had been acquired by Gaidamak.
It seems that Gaidamak had been introduced to Leviev in 1999 by Dani (Danny) Yatom, the former head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. . .
In a January 2000 statement to the stock exchange, Africa Israel allegedly stated that Gaidamak 'owns numerous real-estate properties in Western Europe and several other businesses in infrastructure, investment properties, and energy.'
The statement went on, 'Mr Leviev's decision to sell some of the company shares to international businessman Arkardy Gaydamak (sic) was made in view of his relative advantages, which can bring added value to the realisation of the company's business aims. Leviev believes that the company can reach international achievements in energy, real estate and investment assets following the partnership with Gaidamak.'
After only a few months, the Angolan Government announced that it was awarding exclusivity on the sale of the country's diamonds to Leviev's company. It is not known what role, if any, Gaidamak might have played in delivering control over Angola's diamond production to Leviev. ..
Since this first announcement, the relationship between Gaidamak and Leviev appears to have grown to other business sectors, including fertiliser and uranium production in Khazakstan, with possible further ventures into gold production.Of particular note is the acquisition of the chemical treatment complex of Tselina, known as Kazsabton, which was allegedly one of the key companies in the production of nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union.
Given reports that Gaidamak sold his stake in Africa-Israel back to Leviev, it is not known whether he continues to retain the apparent Leviev/Gaidamak joint investments in Khazakstan in his portfolio.
One key question: Why has Israel not acted on Gaidamak's arrest warrant?
Extradition agreements aside, there are two possible reasons for this situation. Either Israel is simply not honouring its obligations as a member of Interpol, a clearly unacceptable situation, or the serving of the arrest warrant has been delayed - rather extensively, it would seem.
Delays often occur due to the fact that international arrest warrants are usually served through diplomatic channels. The current scenario is obviously unworkable and allows for the horse to bolt prior to shutting the stable door, and especially in light of the events of 11th September 2001, such a process seems totally unsuitable for the task at hand and must be reformed. . .
http://www.globalwitness.org/text/downloads/atpm.doc
Lev Leviev's associate, Arkadi Gaydamak is tied in with the man who was just busted for fixing the Olympics:
" Six years have passed since Gaydamak opened accounts in the Paris branch of Barclay's Bank for Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov, also known as Tayvanchik [the Taiwanese], and at his own expense remodeled Tokhtakhunov's luxurious apartment in the most bourgeois section of Paris.
http://www.diamondstudies.com/docs/camarb2.pdf
Well, I know what I would do, if my loved one who is a friend of Mr. Leviev, should get sprayed with slop from the same bucket. I'm just waiting for my loved one's name to be mentioned by you-know-who.
Did you know Lev Leviev is listed along with Marc Rich and Gary Winnick as major supporters of "Birthright Israel?"
The fact is, though, you’ve been editorializing on Leviv and many others speculating that they fixed the Olympics in a multitude of posts. I just noted your comments in a few below.
Look at your search, you’re googling for “Lev Leviev and Mafia”
You were looking for dirt, which in itself is fine. But it seems to me based on your many inferences of criminality, and accusations of “covering up” against a freeper or two, it’s time for you to put up or shut up so some of these people can go to jail?
And these are comments, lied, not “reporting”.
Italy holds al-Qaeda arms trade suspect
Posted by LarryLied to Alouette
On News/Activism Aug 5 12:07 PM #6 of 16
Arkadi Gaydamak and Lev Leviev busted DeBeer's cartel. That is the key here. Btw...Gaydamak is tied to the guy who fixed the Olympics , Marc Rich and Danny Yatom, Barak's Mossad chief.
Interesting how Lev Leviev knew who was selling diamonds to some nasty people and did nothing about it but invited the smugglers into his business (ASCorp).
More details here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/727319/posts
……………. Angola, UNITA rebels declare war over
Posted by LarryLied to jalisco555; csvset; mafree
On News/Activism Aug 3 11:00 AM #3 of 4
>b>Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Arcadi Gaydamak and Lev Leviev are the winners, not Angola. On to the next African country to loot!
………………….
Skating results may be tossed
Posted by LarryLied to liberallarry; vance; dennisw; veronica; BenF
On News/Activism Aug 4 4:26 PM #61 of 83
Yes, it is confusing. Much of the information is in French or Russian. The names change. "Y" for "i" is common. Some change their names entirely. In 1998, Gaidamak (Gaydamak) legally changed his name in Israel to Arye Barlev. In addition, many of the files are in PDF or DOC. Working on one right now I'll have up later tonight. It should make things more clear.
Lev Leviev is fascinating. The first person I know of to break the DeBeers cartel. He went from having nothing to doing over a billion a year in diamond sales. You'll never guess what he bought with some of that money.
He (and maybe Gaymakad) own Kazsabton--once one of the USSR's key producers of atomic bombs.
Not bad for a penniless immigrant who landed on the shores of Tel Aviv 3 decades ago, is it?
…………………………
All Muslims Wonder-What is Sacrosanct About The American Israeli Passion (Crunchy Frog Alert
Posted by LarryLied to BenF
On News/Activism Aug 4 1:38 AM #46 of 49
Believe it? I despise corruption. Absolutely hate it. It is the death of liberty. Socialism is by definition corrupt. That is where my gripe lies. Check out this and tell me things are just fine in Israel.
The guy who fixed the Olympics is tied to Barak, Marc Rich, Gaydamak, Danny Yatom and Lev Leviev.
………………….
Skating results may be tossed
Posted by LarryLied to JMJ333
On News/Activism Aug 3 11:18 PM #13 of 83
The guy who fixed the Olympics is tied to Gaydamak. Gaydamak was a 15% owner of Africa Israel, a company owned by Lev Leviev. Lev is the biggest diamond dealer in Israel, owns shopping malls, hotel chains and over 1,000 gas stations in the USA. The Mossad chief under Barak introduced Gaydamak and Leview to each other.
Then Gaydamak set up Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov (the Olympic fixer) with bank accounts in Paris. Even furnished his apartment.
There is an arrest warrent out for Gaydamak. He illegally sold over $500 million worth of Russian weapons to Angola and other countries in Africa.
After Gaydamak and Leviev became partners, Leviev, to the surprise of everyone in the business, was awarded a monopoly on Angolan diamonds.
Russians seem pleased this might be the hook needed to bust the mob open. Difficult to get people interested when aluminum refining,commodity trades, arms, a confusing situation in Africa and Russian/Israelis are the nexus. But everyone pays attention to sports.
You might check out Tass, Pravada and others. Every night they have something new. Please ping me if you find something interesting.
Wonder if the guy busted in Italy is connected to Hezbollah. The main Muslim diamond dealer in West Africa was a member.
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