Monzer al-Kassar

Monzer al-Kassar
منذر الكسار
Born1945 (age 78–79)
Hama, Syria
NationalitySyrian
Other names"Prince of Marbella"
OccupationArms dealer
SpouseRaghdaa Habbal
RelativesGhassan
Criminal chargeSelling arms
Penalty30 years imprisonment

Monzer al-Kassar (Arabic: منذر الكسار) (born in 1945),[1] also known as the "Prince of Marbella", is a Syrian arms dealer. He has been connected to numerous crimes, including the Achille Lauro hijacking and the Iran-Contra scandal.[2] On 20 November 2008, he was convicted in U.S. federal court as part of a U.S. government sting, for agreeing to sell arms to undercover agents posing as suppliers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Colombian guerrilla organization.[3][4] He was sentenced to thirty years' imprisonment.[5]

  1. ^ Meet the 'Prince of Marbella' – is he really supporting Iraq's insurgency?, Aram Roston, The Observer, 1 October 2006
  2. ^ Gasztold, Przemysław (2022). "Strange bedfellows in the arms trade: Polish intelligence, Monzer al-Kassar and the Iran-Contra affair". Intelligence and National Security. 37 (5): 627–650. doi:10.1080/02684527.2022.2044592. ISSN 0268-4527. S2CID 247349218.
  3. ^ Larry Neumeister (20 November 2008). "Arms dealer caught in terror sting convicted in NY". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 November 2008.[dead link]
  4. ^ Benjamin Weiser (20 November 2008). "2 Arms Dealers Convicted of Plot to Aid Terrorists". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  5. ^ Al Jazeera, US jails Syrian-born Arms Dealer, 25 February 2009