Dubai denies piracy money laundering

Dubai denies reports by British media claiming that the Emirate's banks are being used by organized piracy syndicates to launder money. Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Police's Deputy Commander General described the allegations as 'baseless' on Wednesday, saying that the UAE has strict legislation against any type of money laundering. The Independent wrote Tuesday that much of the USD 80 million ransoms that pirates had received in 2008 for the release of ships they had hijacked off Somalia and the African Horn was transferred to piracy 'godfathers' based in Dubai and other Persian Gulf littoral states. The British newspaper quoted Christopher Ledger, a former Royal Marine officer, as saying that "syndicates based in the Persian Gulf - some in Dubai - play a significant role in the piracy which is taking place off the African coast." "There are huge amounts of money involved and this gives the syndicates access to increasingly sophisticated means of moving money, as well as access to modern technology in carrying out the hijackings," he added. Al Mazeina reacted to the claims by saying that the UAE's police have not received "any report about money laundering taking place in the UAE." The deputy police commander said that some parties attempt to tarnish the image of the UAE through spreading these vicious rumors.