Muhammad Youssef Hammoud
Position: He immigrated to the US in the 90’s. according to the American authorities he was a key figure in Hezbollah’s financial operation in the US between 1995-2000. He led a cigarette smuggling organization which was responsible for the illegal smuggling of over $8 million worth of cigarettes from North Carolina to Michigan during the late 1990s. Also, it was claimed that he was in one of the closest circles of the leadership of the organization, including Hassan Nasrallah. In the beginning he was sentenced to 155 years in prison which eventually changed to 30 years and released eventually after 23 years.
He claims that his arrest was only due to a money transfer he obtained of 3,500 USD to his mom in Lebanon, that with the intelligence of his relations to the leadership of Hezbollah and due to his name, he was an easy target. (He claims that he was the first Muhammad to be punished with “mega punishment” in the US after the nine eleven terror attack.)
He received an incredible honor since the moment he touched Lebanese soil, both from Hezbollah supporters and the leadership.
He is not hiding the fact he is a great supporter of the progress Hezbollah did along the years.
Location: Recently return to Lebanon after the US authorities released him after 23 years on American prison.