NEW INVESTIGATION: OCCRP and a global partnership of over two dozen journalists unearthed new details about the August 4 explosion in Beirut, which killed 182 and injured over 6,000. #BeirutExplosion 1/
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Reporters uncovered that the owner of the ship that brought the ammonium nitrate to Beirut, the MV Rhosus, was a Cypriot businessman, Charalambos Manoli. He owned companies that also certified and flagged the vessel, despite defects. 2/
At the time, the ship owner was also in $4 million debt to FBME, a Lebanese-owned bank later sanctioned by the U.S. for links to organized crime and financing of groups including Hezbollah. 3/
Reporters also found that the explosives factory in Mozambique that was meant to receive the shipment is part of a group of companies previously investigated for arms trafficking and allegedly supplying explosives used by terrorists. 4/
Our report reveals how anonymous offshore companies and "flags of convenience" helped set the stage for the tragedy. It also provides key new details that could help an int'l investigation — a demand of Lebanese citizens that has so far been rejected by the country’s leaders. 5/
This cross-border investigation was produced in collaboration with @Daraj_media 🇱🇧, @ARIJNetwork 🇯🇴, @meduzaproject 🇷🇺, @istories_media 🇷🇺, @derspiegel 🇩🇪, @risemoldova 🇲🇩, @riseprojectro 🇷🇴, @BivolBg 🇧🇬, @ifactgeorgia 🇬🇪, @verdademz 🇲🇿 6/
