Lebanese authorities have confiscated billions of new Iraqi dinars from aboard a private plane that came from Baghdad. Officials said that 19.5 billion dinars, worth about $15 million, were confiscated aboard the Lebanese-owned Magic Carpet plane late Wednesday. The officials said Thursday that the notes might have been brought to Lebanon to try to trade at money exchange companies. Lebanon's Financial Prosecutor's office detained three Lebanese businessmen who were aboard the plane for questioning. The confiscation of the new money came as Iraq's old bank notes — bearing former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's portrait — became obsolete following a three-month period to exchange them for the new currency.
| I have no idea what the significance of this is. I suppose it could be perfectly legit. But the the money pipes in Iraq must have a pretty wide guage. Nobody seems to bother stealing a thousand here, or even $100,000. They go for the millions... |
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