Waked unaware of DEA 7-year probe

ABDUL WAKED, who heads the network  of  businesses targeted in a 7-year  money laundering and drug investigation, spearheaded by the US Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) years said on Friday, May 6: “I didn’t know that there was an investigation against me until yesterday. Nobody ever asked us anything.”

Meanwhile, his nephew, Nidal Waket is behind bars in Colombia awaiting extradition to the US where prosecutors are asking for a 50 year jail sentence for the scion of one of the wealthiest families in Panama.

His uncle Abdul said: “So far no one has approached me to ask me anything about our accounting or finances. There is nothing dirty or anything. My books are open.”

He said he has nt been to the US for years  and  admitted that he has no visa to enter the United States.

Meanwhile President Juan Carlos has ordered Minister of Economy and Finance Dulcidio De La Guardia to work with US officials to “protect the jobs of 1500 Panamanians affected by the investigation into the Waked Group,

Panamanian Association of Business Executives President Moravia Guerrero, described the actions taken by the U.S. Treasury Department against the Waked family businesses as “serious,” since eventually some will close as a result of the legal actions.

He added that theaccusations “damage the image of the country” and that Panama should make an effort to send a clear message about its decision to fight against drug trafficking, money laundering and set clear transparency policies.

In Colombia The Attorney General is  seeking the  cooperation of the US  Department of the Treasury, to revive an investigation to companies related to Abdul Waket’s  Grupo Wisa.

The newspaper El Tiempo  said  that this is a case for alleged money laundering filed in 2011.

The investigation started in 2009 following  an alert of suspicious transactions made by the Unit for Information and Financial Analysis (FIAU) for an operation in the second half of 2008. The transaction was finally justified by the international business of the company.

Although research is now closed, it be re-opened after  the Treasury Department included Abdul Waked and his Wisa Group on the Clinton List of companies linked to money laundering and drug trafficking. Abdul is , according to the government of the United States the “leader” of the network, along with his nephew Nidal

Meanwhile, lawyer Guillermina McDonald, who represents Abdul Waked, said  that she will attend a meeting at the Public Ministry on Monday, May 9 to discuss an   investigation that has been opened into her client.

She  said that Abdul Waked “is willing to collaborate with the investigation and to provide evidence that may be necessary in order to clarify any doubts.”