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Dictators Ousted But Repatriation of Looted Funds Still Years Away
By Colby Adams
printComplex offshore financial structures and shortcomings in international legal assistance agreements are jamming efforts to repatriate funds considered stolen by former North African leaders, say asset recovery experts. Since January, representatives of new governments in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have called on the international community and its banks to help find and return money from fallen dictators once considered allies of the United States. As much as $76 billion has been hidden in private bank accounts, real estate and corporate structures, they say. "It would not surprise me if it took five years plus to identify all of the funds...
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