Cement company in France searched amid Syria investigation
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French investigators are searching the French offices of LafargeHolcim, the world's largest cement maker, as part of an investigation into the group's deals with armed groups in Syria.
The Swiss-French cement maker confirmed Tuesday's search at its Paris offices. The company has acknowledged funneling money to Syrian armed organizations in 2013 and 2014 — allegedly including the Islamic State group — to guarantee safe passage for employees and supply its multimillion-dollar plant there. Then as now, there were international sanctions against the Islamic State group and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which are U.N.-designated terror groups.
The CEO resigned in April after the company acknowledged dealings with unspecified "sanctioned" groups.
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After pulling out international staff in 2012, the plant was fully evacuated and stopped operating in September 2014.