Terror financingThirty U.S. car dealers caught in Hezbollah terror-financing scheme
Thirty used car dealerships in the United States are currently under investigation for their part in an international money laundering scheme that sent roughly $300 million to the known terrorist organization Hezbollah
Funds raised by Hezbollah used car resales // Source: rpmgo.com
Thirty used car dealerships in the United States are currently under investigation for their part in an international money laundering scheme that sent roughly $300 million to the known terrorist organization Hezbollah.
According to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, Lebanese money was funneled through North American financial institutions before it was used to purchase used cars in the United States. The cars were then shipped to West Africa and sold with the profits smuggled back to Lebanon.
The used car dealerships made millions of dollars in the process and federal authorities are seeking to impose nearly $500,000 in penalties on the Lebanese banks and the thirty U.S. car buyers.
Georges Baaklini, the owner of a used car dealership in Georgia who made $1.4 million from the scheme, maintains that he is innocent. Chuck Sylvester, Baaklini’s attorney, said, “He’s a victim. He’s from Lebanon but has been doing international business for years.”
Sylvester claims that Baaklini was unaware of what his customers were planning to do with the vehicle or where the money came from.
Meanwhile Hezbollah has claimed no knowledge of the incident.
Sheik Naim Kassem, Hezbollah’s second in command, said the organization does not follow “a religiously prohibited path” to raise money and that the latest accusations were part of U.S. attempts to denigrate Hezbollah’s reputation.
