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How two men from Lebanon and Syria who were in the FBI’s most wanted list for arms smuggling and money laundering, ended up residing in Greece with Golden Visas. ” content_phone=”<\/p>\n How two men from Lebanon and Syria who were in the FBI’s most wanted list for arms smuggling and money laundering, ended up residing in Greece with Golden Visas.<\/strong><\/p>\n ” content_last_edited=”on|phone” content_max_width_tablet=”” content_max_width_phone=”100%” content_max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”|800|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”26px” content_font=”||||||||” content_text_align=”left” background_color_gradient_direction=”337deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(10,11,48,0.72) 23%|rgba(255,137,141,0.26) 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(10,11,48,0.72)” background_color_gradient_start_position=”86%” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,137,141,0.26)” background_image=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/poolside.jpg” background_position=”center” background_blend=”soft-light” vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”447px” overflow-y=”hidden” custom_margin_tablet=”||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||57px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px|0px|5px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” title_font_tablet=”” title_font_phone=”|700|||||||” title_font_last_edited=”on|phone” title_font_size_tablet=”25px” title_font_size_phone=”20px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” title_line_height_tablet=”1.2em” title_line_height_phone=”1.1em” title_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” content_font_tablet=”” content_font_phone=”||||||||” content_font_last_edited=”on|phone” content_font_size_tablet=”” content_font_size_phone=”10px” content_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” content_line_height_tablet=”” content_line_height_phone=”1em” content_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” z_index_tablet=”0″ background_layout_tablet=”” background_layout_phone=”” background_layout_last_edited=”on|phone” overflow-x_tablet=”” overflow-x_phone=”” overflow-x_last_edited=”on|phone” overflow-y_tablet=”” overflow-y_phone=”visible” overflow-y_last_edited=”on|phone” title_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”0.12em” title_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” subhead_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” subhead_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” subhead_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” button_one_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” button_one_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” button_one_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” button_two_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” button_two_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” button_two_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_horizontal_image_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_image_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_image_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_image_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_horizontal_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_button_one_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_horizontal_button_two_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_button_two_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_button_two_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_button_two_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How two men from Lebanon and Syria who were in the FBI’s most wanted list for arms smuggling and money laundering, ended up residing in Greece with Golden Visas. [\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n By Nikos Morfonios, Ioanna Louloudi, MIIR<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With a Golden Visa in hand. This is how Mohamad Majd Deiry, a Syrian man wanted by the FBI for arms smuggling and money laundering, appears to have been traveling around Greece. And it is also what Samer Rayya did, his Lebanese associate who is currently a fugitive from Greek authorities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Mediterranean Institute for Investigative Reporting (MIIR), in its investigation also published by <\/span>Ef.Syn<\/span><\/a>. entitled “<\/span>The Mediterranean Wings of the Underworld<\/span><\/a>” (2\/8\/2025), revealed recently that Deiry had appeared in Syria\u2019s Damascus International Airport on June 30, during the official reception of the first flight of the Greek airline Air Mediterranean from Athens. It now appears that this is the same man who reportedly since 2018 had secured a Greek Golden Visa valid for five years, through an investment in prime real estate on the island of Aegina. Specifically, Deiry, along with his two sons and Rayya, appears to have paid at least \u20ac900,000 for a luxury villa in the tourist area of Perdika on the Saronic island to which they have even made donations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fbi_wanted-scaled.jpg” title_text=”fbi_wanted” align=”center” src_tablet=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fbi_wanted-1024×576.jpg” src_phone=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/fbi_wanted-scaled.jpg” src_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Samer Rayya and Mohammad Majd Deiry in the FBI “Most Wanted” list – Source: FBI<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n At the same time, data from the Greek General Commercial Registry (GEMI) show that Rayya ran his own “strawberry and blueberry cultivation” company in Greece since 2019, first in Athens and then in Mykonos, and that he kept signing the company\u2019s financial statements even in 2023, when the Greek police authorities were looking for him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These findings raise serious questions about the broader oversight by Greek authorities, which, in their efforts to attract investment to the country, appear to be neglecting checking the origin of funds that are used to purchase Golden Visas and to start new businesses in Greece.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/30-6-2025_Damascus_Airmed_Deiry_Ambassador-1024×683.jpg” title_text=”30-6-2025_Damascus_Airmed_Deiry_Ambassador” align=”center” src_tablet=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/30-6-2025_Damascus_Airmed_Deiry_Ambassador-1024×683.jpg” src_phone=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/30-6-2025_Damascus_Airmed_Deiry_Ambassador.jpg” src_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Mohamad Majd Deiry (second from the right) at Damascus International Airport upon the arrival of the first Air Mediterranean flight from Athens, June 30, 2025 – Source: Syrian Civil Aviation Authority<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Who are the wanted Golden Investors?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Since 2024, Deiry and Rayya <\/span>have been included in the sanctions list<\/span><\/a> of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of Treasury (OFAC), as well as in the <\/span>FBI’s most wanted list<\/span><\/a>, based on a <\/span>2021 indictment<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThese defendants allegedly ran an international arms trafficking ring and conspired to unlawfully export anti-aircraft ammunition and other military arms and munitions from the United States to Sudan and Iraq, promoting violence and putting Americans and our allies at risk,\u201d Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department\u2019s National Security Division <\/span>had said at the time<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to the <\/span>US authorities<\/span><\/a>, the two men, since at least 2016, had been the heads of the arms trading Black Shield Company for General Trading LLC<\/strong>. \u00a0Based in Irbil, Iraq, Black Shield had \u201cacquired and sold arms used in conflicts around the world, including from key Belarusian defense company Kidma Tech OJSC, an entity <\/span>designated by OFAC<\/span><\/a>\u201d. At the same time, the two men allegedly \u201cbrokered weapons deals and offered air transport services in the Middle East and Africa for individuals, nonstate actors, and government customers, including from Russian arms companies. Black Shield and Deiry maintained relationships with individuals allegedly linked to the Syrian government and engaged in business activity on behalf of the Iranian regime\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Lebanese national Raya was arrested at Athens airport in 2022. According to a <\/span>recent investigation by iMEdD<\/span><\/a>, Rayya was detained in Athens for 16 days and released on bail with a condition that he not leave the country. However, he failed to appear at his trial in February 2023 and has been on the run ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/deiry_damascus-30-6.jpg” title_text=”Screenshot” align=”center” src_tablet=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/deiry_damascus-30-6-694×1024.jpg” src_phone=”https:\/\/miir.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/deiry_damascus-30-6-694×1024.jpg” src_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Mohamad Majd Deiry speaks at an event in Damascus for the launch of Air Mediterranean flights from Athens, 30-6-2025.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The wanted Syrian Majd Deiry reappeared in Damascus on June 30. A <\/span>post<\/span><\/a> by the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority presents him as the chairman of the board of a Lebanon-based company called “<\/span>Arkhos<\/span><\/a>“. \u00a0Photos from the reception of the first Air Mediterranean aircraft from Athens show Deiry in front of the aircraft, and later speaking at an event at a large hotel in Damascus on the launch of Air Mediterranean’s new routes to Syria, via Athens, from Vienna, Cologne, and Berlin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a legal warning letter<\/a> sent to MIIR by Air Mediterranean, the airline claims that it has “no connection” with Deiry, whom it claims is an “advisor on aviation issues” to Arkhos and not the company\u2019s president. However, it is a fact that Deiry spoke formally about the Europe-Syria air link via Air Mediterranean at this event, even <\/span>making statements<\/span><\/a> to journalists under the title of “Chairman of the Board” of Arkhos.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_orientation=”justified” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Golden Visa uncontrolled mayhem<\/b><\/p>\n In 2017, the Greek government, along with dozens of legal, notary, and real estate agencies, advertised the Golden Visa – the program for obtaining a “Permanent Investor Residence Permit”, which at the time was granted for any legal purchase of real estate over \u20ac250,000.\u00a0 From 2024 onwards, in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and on islands with a population of over 3,100, the minimum investment threshold is \u20ac800,000 for a property. In the rest of Greece, the minimum amount for a Golden Visa is \u20ac400,000.<\/span><\/p>\n Lift-off under the Mitsotakis government<\/b><\/p>\n The result of this systematic advertising is clear: from 2018 to 2024, a total of 22,928 permanent investor permits have been issued, according to data from the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, while during the same period, at least 6,124 permits of this privileged type have been renewed. In fact, there has been <\/span>an 81% increase<\/span><\/a> in golden visas issued in the first half of 2025 (5,294) compared to the first half of 2024 (2,926).<\/span><\/p>\n
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