BCCI: Abedi's bank giant and collapse in 1991 – Scandal

In the early 1970s, Pakistani banker Agha Hasan Abedi founded the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, better known as BCCI, with a stated vision of serving the post-colonial world. However, behind this ambitious facade lay a darker reality. When the bank collapsed in 1991, a global financial scandal of unprecedented scope was uncovered. A network of extensive financial crime, permeated by money laundering, fraud, and corruption, shook the financial world and left losses of up to 17 billion dollars. The BCCI case exposed not only the bank's own crimes but also the serious failings in international banking supervision, which for years had allowed this institution to operate virtually unchecked.

1972 Birth of BCCI: Abedi's global regulatory evasion plan

The story of BCCI, a key player in international business at the time, begins in 1972. Here, Agha Hasan Abedi, with financial backing from Middle Eastern investors, including Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, founded the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. From the outset, BCCI's structure was deliberately designed to create confusion and circumvent national regulation. The bank was therefore strategically registered in Luxembourg but had operational headquarters in both London and Karachi. This complex setup created a legal gray area that effectively hindered any attempt at thorough supervision and control.

Philippines to corruption: BCCI for Marcos and Abedi's power

Early in the bank's existence, suspicious transactions flourished, highlighting the underlying financial crime. Among other things, BCCI was deeply involved in helping the Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos funnel enormous sums of money out of the Philippines. This was done through a network of fictitious loans and shell accounts, a classic example of international money laundering. Agha Hasan Abedi's strategy to expand BCCI's power and business involved systematically building a global network of influential contacts. These connections were often political in nature and likely involved bribery to ensure the bank's continued operations and avoid intervention.

USA Secret: BCCI's infiltration of First American Bank

A notable example of BCCI's aggressive expansion took place in the USA, where the bank succeeded in secretly gaining control of First American Bank. This infiltration of the American market occurred through a complex system of frontmen and nominees, including the later notorious Saudi businessman Ghaith Pharaon. This advanced 'nominee' structure was a deliberate maneuver designed to conceal BCCI's true ownership and control. The method allowed the bank to operate in the US financial market and commit further financial crimes without revealing its true identity to American authorities.

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