Mohammad Bazzi, Hezbollah Financier, Extradited to US from Romania
Mohammad Bazzi, a Lebanese-born businessman who is alleged to be a financier for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, was extradited to the United States from Romania on Wednesday, according to the US Department of Justice.
Bazzi, 56, was arrested in Romania in February 2023 on a US warrant charging him with conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The IEEPA is a law that authorizes the president to block property and interests in property of foreign persons and entities that are owned or controlled by, or that act for or on behalf of, the government of a designated country.
The FCPA is a law that prohibits US persons from bribing foreign government officials in order to obtain or retain business.
According to the indictment, Bazzi conspired with others to violate the IEEPA and the FCPA by providing financial support to Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The indictment alleges that Bazzi used his businesses in Lebanon and Romania to launder money and to provide financial support to Hezbollah.
Bazzi is the second Hezbollah financier to be extradited to the United States from Romania in recent months.
In February 2023, the United States extradited Ali Fayad, a Lebanese-born businessman who was also charged with conspiring to violate the IEEPA and the FCPA.
The extradition of Bazzi and Fayad is a sign of the growing cooperation between the United States and Romania in the fight against terrorism.
The United States has been working to extradite Hezbollah financiers from around the world in order to disrupt the group's financial network.
The extradition of Bazzi is a significant victory for the United States in the fight against terrorism.
Bazzi is a key figure in Hezbollah's financial network, and his extradition will help to disrupt the group's ability to raise and move money.
The United States is committed to working with its partners around the world to disrupt the financial networks of terrorist organizations.
The extradition of Bazzi is a sign of the United States' resolve in this fight..
The IEEPA is a law that authorizes the president to block property and interests in property of foreign persons and entities that are owned or controlled by, or that act for or on behalf of, the government of a designated country.
The FCPA is a law that prohibits US persons from bribing foreign government officials in order to obtain or retain business.
According to the indictment, Bazzi conspired with others to violate the IEEPA and the FCPA by providing financial support to Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The indictment alleges that Bazzi used his businesses in Lebanon and Romania to launder money and to provide financial support to Hezbollah.
Bazzi is the second Hezbollah financier to be extradited to the United States from Romania in recent months.
In February 2023, the United States extradited Ali Fayad, a Lebanese-born businessman who was also charged with conspiring to violate the IEEPA and the FCPA.
The extradition of Bazzi and Fayad is a sign of the growing cooperation between the United States and Romania in the fight against terrorism.
The United States has been working to extradite Hezbollah financiers from around the world in order to disrupt the group's financial network.
The extradition of Bazzi is a significant victory for the United States in the fight against terrorism.
Bazzi is a key figure in Hezbollah's financial network, and his extradition will help to disrupt the group's ability to raise and move money.
The United States is committed to working with its partners around the world to disrupt the financial networks of terrorist organizations.
The extradition of Bazzi is a sign of the United States' resolve in this fight..