A man arrested in Philadelphia in November 2009 on allegations that he tried to buy antiaircraft missiles and automatic weapons was charged with conspiracy to provide material support to Hizballah, according to a superseding indictment filed in federal court in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
Dani Nemr Tarraf, a German national, worked with others to "acquire weapons and other equipment for the benefit of Hizballah," including anti-aircraft missiles, from about January 2007 through November 2009, the indictment says.
In June 2009, Tarraf told undercover agents in Philadelphia that he wanted to purchase guided missiles that could "take down an F-16." He also asked the undercover agents to obtain weapons to be shipped to either Iran or Syria for use by the "Resistance."
Tarraf and others purchased stolen goods including laptops, cell phones, BMWs and other equipment to be transported to places including Lebanon, Syria and Iran. In 2009, Tarraf provided $30,000 in cash to undercover agents for a shipment of Stinger missiles, Colt M-4 carbines and anti-armor weapons to the port of Latakia, Syria.
Tarraf's arrest resulted from an undercover investigation involving stolen goods beginning in 2007. The FBI's Philadelphia Joint Terrorism Task Force four-year probe resulted in the indictments of two dozen alleged Hizballah operatives and sympathizers.