Mohamad Noureddine is a Lebanese businessman who was a central figure in Hezbollah’s global money-laundering and drug-trafficking networks, through his interests in real estate and jewelry trading. He operated through his company, Trade Point International S.A.R.L., which was based in Lebanon and his operations spanned Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, funneling illicit funds to support Hezbollah's military activities, particularly in Syria.^[1][2][3]

In 2016, Mohamad Noureddine was sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department for allegedly laundering money on behalf of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. and several other countries. According to the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Noureddine was a key figure in a global money-laundering network that processed illicit funds through a complex system of exchange houses and commercial enterprises.^[1][4][5]

His company, Trade Point International S.A.R.L. in Beirut facilitated money laundering operations connected to drug trafficking, using financial institutions in Lebanon and abroad to move large sums of money to purchase weapons for Hezbollah in Syria.^[6] U.S. authorities claimed that Noureddine had direct ties to Hezbollah's financial arm, using his network to launder funds that supported the group's activities.^[7]

In January 2016, French authorities arrested Mohamad Noureddine in Paris as part of a joint investigation involving the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and European law enforcement agencies.^[8][9] The operation, which targeted a network involved in laundering drug money for Colombian cartels such as: Medellín Cartel and La Oficina de Envigado, that led to multiple arrests in France, Belgium, and Germany. Noureddine was later convicted in France on charges of money laundering and criminal conspiracy.^[10]

In 2018, a French court sentenced him to seven years in prison and imposed a €500,000 fine. His conviction was part of a broader crackdown on international money laundering operations that linked drug cartels, terrorist organizations, and illicit financial networks spanning multiple continents.^[4][3]

Following his arrest, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Noureddine and his business operations, freezing his assets in the United States and prohibiting American individuals and entities from conducting business with him.^[9] Several European banks also took action to block accounts and financial transactions linked to his network.^[10][9]

The case of Mohamad Noureddine highlighted the intersection of organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorist financing.^[11][7] His arrest and conviction were considered significant steps in disrupting Hezbollah's financial infrastructure, which relies on global money laundering schemes to fund its operations. However, experts note that similar networks continue to operate, adapting to increased scrutiny and regulatory measures.^[11]

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