Russian tycoon makes secret U.S. trips

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A Russian aluminum tycoon barred from the United States for years recently made two secret visits arranged by the FBI, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Oleg Deripaska, who controls UC Rusal, met with investment bankers in New York and General Motors executives in Detroit, the Journal said. Deripaska plans a public stock offering and is part of a consortium negotiating a purchase of GM's Adam Opel AG unit.

Deripaska's business empire is responsible for about 2 percent of Russia's gross domestic product. He is close to Russian leaders, including Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who had urged U.S. officials to give him a visa.

The State Department had previously refused to allow Deripaska into the United States because of concerns about alleged ties to organized crime in Russia.