US prosecutors charged on Friday two Lebanese citizens were arrested over allegations that they assisted Lebanese group Hezbollah with plotting to launder drug money and broker other illegal deals for criminal groups in Lebanon and Iran.
The alleged Hezbollah associates were identified as Lebanese businesswoman Iman Kobeissi, 50 years old, and Lebanese attorney Joseph Asmar, 42, are connected to Hezbollah and part of a global network of money launderers and traffickers.
The criminal complaint, unsealed Friday in Brooklyn, New York, federal court, and other court documents detail two years of recorded meetings between undercover government agents and Ms. Kobeissi and Mr. Asmar.
Ms. Kobeissi pleaded not guilty in court Friday. Her lawyer didn’t have an immediate comment. Prosecutors said Mr. Asmar was arrested in Paris, and his lawyer couldn’t immediately be located. Both defendants were arrested Thursday.