“The Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has “tens of billions” in cash hidden away in Tripoli,” The New York Times reports referring to its source in U.S. and Western intelligence services.

According to the source, Gaddafi keeps the huge cash deposits at the Libyan Central Bank and other banks around Tripoli.

“Since the protests broke out in the country, some of the money may have been transferred into Gaddafi’s Tripoli compound. The money in Libyan dinars, U.S. dollars and other foreign currencies allows the Libyan leader to pay his troops, African mercenaries and supporters to fight the protests,” the source says.