Damien Lewis

Hardcover: 352 pages
(3 May 2007)
Publisher: Century
ISBN-10: 1844138690

Cobra Gold

Synopsis of Book

1979, war-torn Beirut. Under the cover of a massive firefight, an unknown band of armed men blast their way into the Imperial Bank of Beirut. Over the next 48 hours they load up three truck-loads of gold bullion, and the raiders and the loot disappear forever.

Six days earlier, an SAS Major newly arrived in The Regiment had tasked his men with stealing terrorist documents hidden in that bank vault. But when SAS veteran Luke Kilbride presented his plan for the mission, the Major tore it to pieces.

Kilbride didn't appreciate this jumped-up officer telling him he was a fool. Neither did the men in his unit. Together, they decided to prove the Major wrong and rob the bank anyway, becoming fabulously rich in the process. They code-named their mission 'Cobra Gold.'

But whilst the robbery went like clockwork, this was just the start of things going badly wrong for Kilbride and his men. Cornered on the gun-blasted streets of Beirut, they are forced to hide the loot and make a spectacular getaway.

Two decades later, Kilbride and his team return to recover their hidden gold. But unbeknown to them, a powerful and ruthless adversary is hell bent on finding it first. Kilbride dreams up a breathtaking decoy mission to lead the enemy away from the loot. So begins a deadly race against time, where the stakes being played for are survival itself.

Fact: the 1976 Beirut bank heist remains the world's biggest ever bank job. No one has ever been arrested. The crime has never been solved. None of the gold has ever been found.

"A guerrilla force blasted its way into the Beirut vault, clearing out contents worth some 50 million dollars." Guinness World Records

Story Update

Cobra Gold is based upon a set of real life events. The World's biggest ever bank robbery took place in 1976, in Beirut, in the midst of the Lebanon's bitter and bloody civil war. It is noted as such in Guinness World Records. The target of the raid was a British bank that had its headquarters on Rue Riad al-Sohl, better known as 'Bank Street', the heart of Beirut's financial district. The main bulk of the valuables stolen were made up of gold bullion. Estimates vary as to their value, from 50 million dollars (approaching two hundred million dollars at today's value), to ten times that amount. Amazingly, none of this loot has ever been recovered and no one knows who carried out the raid.

At the time, the Christian militia forces in Beirut blamed the opposing Muslim forces for carrying out the raid. Predictably, the Muslim forces in turn blamed the Christian militia. Other theories then surfaced, including: 1. that the Christian and Muslim forces cut a deal to jointly carry out the raid; 2. that the Corsican or Sicilian Mafia did the bank job; 3. that the Russian mafia robbed the bank; 4. that the Israeli Secret Service did it; 5. that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) did it; 6. that the late Yaser Arafat's Force 17 did it.

In short, the world's biggest bank robbery remains shrouded in mystery: that event is the basis for the story behind Cobra Gold. All the military hardware and technology depicted in Cobra Gold story exist in the real world today and are employed by the elite of the British and US armed forces. Likewise, the historical, religious and political background of The Assassins is accurately portrayed. The Assassins were a real force that existed at the time of the Crusades, with considerable similarities to the enigmatic Knights Templar.

Where Are They Now

The Beirut bank raid has never been solved. None of the loot - a mixed bag of mainly gold bullion, but also share and stock certificates, cash and valuables - has ever been recovered. Valued at a minimum of 50 million dollars at the time, (over 200 million dollars at today's values) the real extent of the valuables stolen may have been far in excess of that amount.

Whoever did pull off the world's biggest ever bank job, it is arguably also one of the world's 'perfect' robberies. By contrast, in all the other significant major bank jobs of recent history, the robbers have been found and the loot has been recovered. After the Beirut Bank job, the world's second largest heist is the 1983 Brink's Mat robbery, wherein some $52 million in gold bullion was stolen at London's Heathrow airport (several times that amount at today's values). But within months, the robbers, fencers and gold smelters were being rounded up, and in 2006 the British police were unearthing the very last of the hidden gold.

The next largest is the 2006 robbery of a Securitas depot, in Kent, in which $88 million was stolen. Within days arrests were being made and the bulk of the money was recovered. After that comes an audacious 2005 robbery in Brazil, where thieves tunnelled underneath the vault of the Central Bank of Fortaleza city. Some $70 million was stolen, but within months the culprits had confessed and the money was being recovered. In the 2004 Belfast bank job just $40 million was stolen, and again the culprits were quickly arrested and the majority of the money tracked down. The Beirut Bank Job is unique in that none of the loot has ever been found and no one has ever been arrested: it remains a total mystery.

The Story Behind The Story

Some readers may wonder as to the genesis of the story behind Cobra Gold and its factual basis. I was first told about the 1976 Beirut bank raid by a retired and ageing SAS soldier. For want of a better name, I’ll call him ‘Andy’. The discussion took place in a greasy spoon café in London’s Soho district, over countless mugs of tea. I had never heard of the Beirut bank job, and was amazed to learn that it was the largest single bank robbery of all time. I was equally amazed to learn that to this day the crime remains unsolved, that no-one has ever worked out who carried out the raid and that none of the loot has ever been recovered. Andy finally asked me, with a wicked sparkle in his eye, if it wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility that his lot had robbed the bank.

I asked him if they had. Andy told me that he couldn’t answer that question, but he could outline a scenario for me. He stressed that none of this was provable, of course, but wondered whether I mightn’t find it interesting. The scenario was of a freelance bank raid by a rogue group of SAS soldiers, commanded by an NCO of an unusually maverick nature (even for The Regiment). It included a savage assault on the bank building using all available weaponry, a series of deliberate ruses to fox both side to the civil war (including the use of emergency services vehicles) plus an infiltration and exfiltration from the war-torn city via the sea. And it involved an SAS troop-sized force operating out of Cyprus at a time when the military high command were at odds with the SAS itself, and trying to foist rigidly controlling elements onto what will always remain a maverick, spirited outfit.

After three or four hours of note taking, and after my SAS mate had repeatedly stressed that this was ‘all theoretical, of course’, I paid the bill and we left the café and went our separate ways. During the months that followed I spoke with Andy on several occasions, and each time he asked me whether I’d looked into the story of the Beirut raid any further. Eventually I did. What struck me first was the immense paucity of information on what was and remains the world’s largest ever bank job. These are the known facts. The raid took place over three days, from January 21-23rd, 1976. A guerrilla force blasted their way into the Beirut bank vault and proceeded to remove so much loot that several trucks were needed to spirit it away. Several smaller Beirut banks appear to have been robbed at around the same time. But whilst those were casual acts of small-scale looting, this appears to have been a well-planned and daringly executed raid on a gigantic scale.

And that’s it. Those are the known facts. The raid on the bank is notable in that so little is known about it, and in particular how much was stolen and who was responsible. The main bulk of the valuables seized during the raid were made up of gold bullion, although there were also cash deposits, bonds and share certificates. The stolen loot may have been worth anything from fifty million dollars to some five hundred million dollars, or any figure in between. Whilst the robbery remains unsolved, it is also largely unheard of: very few people that I spoke to from the relevant military and law enforcement agencies knew anything about the raid, or even that it took place. It had, quite simply, disappeared off the radar screen - which in itself was enough to pique anyone’s interest.

Since the raid took place a string of possible suspects had been identified, including: the Christian or Muslim militias in Beirut; the Corsican or Sicilian Mafia; the Russian Mafia; the Israeli special forces, MOSSAD; the Irish Republican Army (IRA); and Yaser Arafat’s Force 17. Nowhere in my research did I find a single reference to the fact that the SAS might have carried out the raid, as a freelance act of pillage par excellence. I met up with Andy again and told him what I’d managed to find out, which was shockingly little. He laughed and didn’t appear surprised. He filled in a few more of the details for me – all entirely theoretical, of course – and told me that was as much as he could say. Any more and he would be speaking out of turn, and breaking certain confidences.

I checked the story with several other SAS and SBS mates, but found that I had entered into a world of smoke and mirrors. Some had heard of the Beirut bank job; others hadn’t. Some believed Andy’s story; others suspected it was a complete fiction. Finally, it was clear that the book I had in mind to write would have to be a fiction, but one based upon a hard core of facts. And so Cobra Gold was born. Having exhausted the research I might do on the Beirut bank raid itself, I turned my attention to The Regiment. Did the SAS have a prior history of freelance acts of pillage? Had there ever been any similar robberies?

As it turned out, yes there had, and the first as early as 1959. Between 1958-9, the SAS had been deployed on anti-insurgent operations in Oman. In 1959, D Squadron of the SAS had scaled Oman’s Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, the highest peak in the Gulf region. At the summit they discovered a cave, guarded by enemy fighters. The SAS men attacked, believing the cave to contain enemy weapons or arms. After hurling hand grenades inside, the SAS stormed the cave. Inside they discovered a stash of large wooden chests. Fully expecting them to contain ammo, they opened one to discover it piled high with Maria Theresa silver dollars. The Maria Theresa silver dollar - originally the currency of the Austrian Empire in the 1700s - is one of the most famous coins of antiquity. Over the years, it became the unofficial trade currency of several African and Middle East states.

Each wooden chest was piled high with the treasure, and the cave contained riches beyond the wildest dreams of the SAS men. They threw down their packs, emptied out the contents, and stuffed them full of the Maria Theresa dollars. The men were laughing and joking and already planning their long retirements on the French Riviera. However, over the next two days they were mortared and machine gunned by the enemy, and gradually the treasure was dumped in an effort to lighten their loads and escape with their lives – or so the story goes as it is told by the men involved in the mission at the time. This act of opportunistic SAS robbery is reported in Ken Connor’s superlative Ghost Force – the Secret History of the SAS. The story is credited to the eyewitness account of an unnamed D Squadron sergeant who was present in the Jebel Akhdar at the time.

And that, it seems, was the first in a string of further freelance initiatives aimed at augmenting the SAS soldier’s unarguably meagre wage . . . As recently as 2001, soldiers of the SAS’s sister regiment, the Special Boat Service, were suspected of walking away with millions of dollars of cash in the war in Afghanistan, cash that was supposed to be used to bribe the Afghan warlords. Arguably, it was far better off in the hands of the SBS. Similar acts of UKSF freelance brigandry are reported from The Balkans conflict, the Iraq war and elsewhere.

Damien Lewis Interview on Cobra Gold

Damien Lewis, journalist, documentary film maker and the best selling chronicler of many of the SAS’s and SBS’s most notable exploits is back in London to promote the launch of his latest book - Cobra Gold. Sitting comfortably relaxed, with a pot of tea in front of him, Damien looks pleased to be back in the civilized surroundings of a top London hotel. He has spent the last few weeks in Africa researching his next project. The legacy of time spent working on ‘the dark continent’ is a recurring vulnerability to malaria; his latest trip was quick to expose this weakness. This has put some rather dark rings round his lively, deep set eyes, which together with his sun burned skin makes him look even more Arabic than normal, a natural advantage that has more than once saved his life and did so again on his last trip. But that’s another story.

Cobra Gold is a rather different book for Damien. It still features the exploits of the remarkable soldiers of the SAS, but in this instance Damien has allowed himself more creative license compared to his previous two best sellers (Bloody Heroes and Operation Certain Death), though he is still reluctant to confirm what details of the astonishing adventure written so brilliantly in Cobra Gold are fact and what are fiction. When you read the story you will understand why Damien is reluctant to confirm what he really knows.

Cobra Gold is a fast moving story built around the biggest bank robbery the world has ever seen. The story starts with a highly professional bank-heist in Beirut, in 1976. The SAS team that breaks in are faced with a prize of staggering and unexpected proportions, then as courage, greed, opportunism and recklessness starts to unfold you get sucked into the problems of trying to hide, let alone dispose of a heavy and cumbersome mountain of gold valued at $50million. With an eye to technical accuracy, which is such a feature of Damien’s writing, the tale finally brings us to the modern day. The terrorist organization that claims ownership of the gold and the authorities that send the team in to this most covert of covert operations are formidable adversaries and throwing them off the trail is no easy matter. This is modern drama at its best with Damien Lewis in top form. Cobra Gold costs £17.99 and is available through all good bookshops and Amazon.

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Readers Reviews

DAMIEN LEWIS HAS DONE IT AGAIN,
30 May 2007 - By Burt J. (Never at one place for more than a few days)

One of the best authors of our time when it comes to Military Hardbacks and keeping the readers on the edge of their seats, wanting more and more. He has done it yet again with his new book 'Cobra Gold'. I spent quite a bit of time with Damien flying him around and working with him in the worst of the Warzones of Africa and I have never quite met someone as devoted and motivated in getting all the facts right for his readers. He really does go to the ends of the earth for the best untold stories. Anyone who has not yet read all of Damien's books really is missing out on a immense part of life as we don't know it.....

ACE READ
28 May 2007 By Steven Clarke (CORK, IRELAND)

Cobra Gold? Best of British.
A unique book and an excellent read - I couldn't put it down. The nasty villian is an ex-SAS soldier, the hero his ex-SAS colleague and son of a preacher man, and the duel between them is classic stuff. The cast of supporting characters is international, the scope of the action ranges from Africa, the Middle East and UK. The plot is unguessable and unknowable until the very end - edge of the seat stuff. And the bank robbery itself - the heart of the story - is a fact that really did happen. Best book i've read this year.

...............End of story.,
21 May 2007 By zapbass "paulo" (u.k)

Buy only one book this year, it must be this one! Damien as always brings a fresh style to this type of book,with more twists & turns than a narror track with an ambush at the end of it! I'm not going to prattle on any more as i'll say too much & spoil the book for you all -- Just buy the book. Then buy "Bloody Hero's" then buy "operation certain death" if only for the "Yokel" and the secret "Op" 10 out of 10 A+ ..........and that goes for all tree books !!

Alan Trafford's opinion,
21 May 2007 By Alan Hall Trafford (Ireland)

A stunning book, even better than Operation Certain Death. Completely realistic, in fact I would not be surprised if it is exactly what happened. The transport and hiding of the gold is particularly convincing. I just wonder if the author has a ton of it hidden away there in Ireland ! A great read.

Thumbs up from the boys,
18 May 2007 By Steve Mason (Hereford)

I will not beat about the bush as that's not my style so I shall simply say 'get this book', read it and judge for yourselves. However, from my personal point of view, I am certain you will all find it thoroughly enthralling with a depth and breadth of factual research not usually seen in books of a similar genre; to that end 'Cobra Gold' is in a league and catagory of its very own and raises the bar considerably. Knowing many lads in both the SAS and SBS who have read it with their ever critical eye and at times scathing wit and cynicism on all subjects written about them, Damien Lewis should be justifiably proud as it gets a resounding THUMBS UP from the boys. This book should be a film it is that good. May come across as cheesy in places, such as dialogue sections as one reviewer noted, but that only adds to the realism and portrays the banter far more effectively of the lads as that is how it is as those who play the game know too well; well done Damien and can't wait for your next book.

An amazing action-packed novel,
18 May 2007 - By Mrs. Janet B. Thompsett (Carshalton, Surrey)

I've just finished reading this. What an absolutely brilliant book. Chris Ryan meets Andy McNab meets Frederick Forsyth. The story - whether it was based on fact or not - was superb. The action towards the end was amazing. It will certainly make fabulous tv/movie - I can't praise it high enough. WOW!

Pretty Much Unputdownable - but it can be cheesy,
17 May 2007 - By carfers "CC"

After reading Damien Lewis's other books, I was expecting a good one - and that is pretty much what i got. The book is unputdownable, i read it in 2 days flat, this is cuased by a good writing style, if not a little chessy at times if your in the right frame of mind it's extremly exciting, and adrenaline filled book.

The SAS troopers in the book are portrayed as being rather maverick, and as i said before, if this is taken in the right frame of mind, improves the book. The storyline is fast paced, and sometimes i found it hard with continuous movements around the world... But it is a good overall read. Not only is it a good storyline, but also it is quite full of infomation. I reckon that within the first few pages you will be hooked... Well done, a definate 4/5

Cobra Gold ? Solid Gold !,
10 May 2007 - By A. Heaton (Slough, Berks, UK)
I had the pleasure of reading the proof copy of this book. This book was totally un-put-downable ! Being ex services and having worked closely with the "Hereford Hooligans", it was so believable (and have met characters as portrayed in the book)! Thank you for providing me with a couple of hours of total enjoyment.

More readers reviews of Cobra Gold from Amazon.co.uk >>>

Media & Press

'As good as any thriller I have ever read'.
Freddie Forsyth

'Reveals a true story of British courage and daring.'
The Sunday Times

'Riveting.'
Richard & Judy Show

'Grotesque, glorious and utterly gripping.'
Bolton Evening News

'A rollercoaster journey into the very heart of darkness.'
The Gerry Ryan Show

'The most dramatic story of a secret wartime mission ever.'
News of the World

'Exciting and revelatory.'
Duncan Falconer

'A tremendous read.'
Max Arthur

"In 1976, a crack team blasted its way into Beirut's British bank of the Middle East and stole gold bars worth 100 million sterling at today's prices - making this the world's biggest ever bank heist. Niether the robbers nor the bullion were ver found - but now, with the story the basis of a major new bestseller, a remarkable theory has emerged."
The Mail on Sunday Live Magazine, Sunday 3rd June, 2007.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/live/live.html

"A Ryan show favourite, having experienced war, terror and espionage Damien Lewis is now writing about it, and his new book is an extraordinary account based upon a true story of the world's biggest bank robbery featuring special forces in Beirut, in the 1970s. It's a crime that was never solved and it's now a griping thriller called Cobra Gold. It's a cracker." Gerry Ryan, You can hear the full interview with Gerry Ryan at Gerry Ryan Show, 5th June, 2007-06-07 Damien's interview starts approx 2hrs 32mins into the show. This link requires the RealAudio player, which is vailable to download for FREE from www.real.com

"Tell the gripping story of the world's biggest bank robbery, and those who may have done it. Amazing and superb."
Sid Olivera, REM-FM

"Cobra Gold is a fast moving story built around the biggest bank robbery the world has ever seen. The story starts with a highly professional bank-heist in Beirut. The SAS team that break in are faced with a prize of staggering and unexpected proportions, then as courage, greed, opportunism and recklessness starts to unfold you get sucked into the problems of trying to hide, let alone dispose of a heavy and cumbersome mountain of gold valued at $50million. With an eye to technical accuracy, which is such a feature of Damien's writing, the tale finally brings us to the modern day. The terrorist organization that claims ownership of the gold and the authorities that send the team in to this most covert of covert operations are formidable adversaries and throwing them off the trail is no easy matter. This is modern drama at its best with Damien Lewis in top form."
A.J. Hogan, Compass Magazine

Excerpt

Before he was even fully alert Kilbride knew what had woken him. A low, throaty growl was coming from the direction of the bedroom window. It was barely audible and certainly not enough to rouse a man under normal circumstance: but this was far from normal and Kilbride knew it for what it was - an urgent warning. His dog, Sally, had been through the Defence Animal Training Centre, in Leicestershire, before spending the next four years on active duty with the SAS. Sally didn't growl at nothing. They had an intruder outside their window. Read More