A dual Lebanese-Belgian citizen accused by the United States of financing the Hezbollah terrorist organization has been extradited from Romania and faced sanctions evasion and money laundering charges on Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court, prosecutors said, according to Reuters.
Mohammad Bazzi, who Washington says has provided millions of dollars to Hezbollah, was arrested in February on charges of covertly selling real estate he owned in Michigan and transferring the funds abroad, violating US sanctions laws.
Bazzi was extradited on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty in a Wednesday court hearing in Brooklyn. He was ordered detained pending trial.
In 2018, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Bazzi over his alleged ties to Hezbollah, which Washington considers a terrorist organization.
The United States regularly sanctions Lebanese officials and entities linked to Hezbollah.
In January, the US slapped sanctions on a high-profile Lebanese economist alleged to be assisting Hezbollah with its financial operations.
A month earlier, Washington slapped terrorism sanctions on two accountants and two companies in Lebanon for providing Hezbollah with financial services.