This means, of course, that there are well-heeled supporters of Hizballah inside the United States. “Authorities said Bazzi and Chahine conspired to force or induce an individual in the U.S. to liquidate their interests in some real estate assets in Michigan and covertly transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds out of the U.S. to Bazzi and Chahine in Lebanon.” AP, an individual should be referred to as “him” or “her,” not “their.” But yes, I know, there is so much confusion about pronouns these days. In any case, are law enforcement authorities trying to determine whether this individual was indeed “forced” or gave the money voluntarily? Or would that question be too “Islamophobic” for our woke authorities today?
“‘Global Terrorist’ Hezbollah Financier Arrested in European Capital,” Associated Press, February 25, 2023:
NEW YORK (AP) – A Lebanese and Belgian citizen considered a key financier of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah was arrested Friday in Bucharest, Romania’s capital, federal authorities said.
Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi, 58, who was labelled a “global terrorist” by the United States in 2018 when $10 million was offered for information about his whereabouts, has funnelled millions of dollars to Hezbollah over the years, authorities said.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace in Brooklyn said the extradition of Bazzi and Lebanese citizen Talal Chahine, 78, was sought on charges contained in an indictment returned last month in Brooklyn federal court.
“Mohammad Bazzi thought that he could secretly move hundreds of thousands of dollars from the United States to Lebanon without detection by law enforcement,” Peace said in a release. “Today’s arrest proves that Bazzi was wrong.”
Charges lodged against Bazzi and Chahine included conspiracy to cause U.S. individuals to conduct unlawful transactions with a global terrorist and money laundering conspiracy. It was unclear who will represent the men when they arrive in the United States.
Daniel J. Kafafian, acting head of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New Jersey, said the defendants “attempted to provide continued financial assistance to Hezbollah, a foreign terrorist organization responsible for death and destruction.”…
Authorities said Bazzi and Chahine conspired to force or induce an individual in the U.S. to liquidate their interests in some real estate assets in Michigan and covertly transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds out of the U.S. to Bazzi and Chahine in Lebanon.
The men were caught on recorded conversations proposing numerous ways to conceal from U.S. law enforcement officials that Bazzi was the source and destination of the proceeds of the sale and that the men were involved, authorities said.
Kashyap says
These jihadis are potential hazards wherever they live. Civilized countries should be discrete in letting them in as a refuges or otherwise.