Vanuatu revokes passport of Syrian businessman over US sanctions alaraby.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from alaraby.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Last modified on Wed 14 Jul 2021 19.19 EDT
A controversial “golden passports” scheme run by the Pacific nation of Vanuatu saw more than 2,000 people, including a slew of disgraced businesspeople and individuals sought by police in countries all over the world, purchase citizenship in 2020 – and with it visa-free access to the EU and UK, the Guardian can reveal.
Among those granted citizenship were a Syrian businessman with US sanctions against his businesses, a suspected North Korean politician, an Italian businessman accused of extorting the Vatican, a former member of a notorious Australian motorcycle gang, and South African brothers accused of a $3.6bn cryptocurrency heist.