FBI: Philadelphia based Arms ring sought to export weapons to Syria and Hezbollah.

The FBI has arrested 10 people, several of them Lebanese emigrants, on charges of conspiring to export weapons from Philadelphia to the Syrian port of Latakia. A federal indictment announced on Nov. 24 said the weapons included 1,200 machine guns as well as anti-aircraft missiles meant for the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah.

“Today, through the well-coordinated effort of all involved agencies, a blow has been struck to Hizbullah’s efforts to fund its terrorism activities,” FBI special agent Janice Fedarcyk said.

Two of the defendants were identified as Hassan Hodroj and Dib Hani Harb, charged with trying to export Stinger surface-to-air missiles as well as 1,200 Colt M-4 carbines, or machine guns, to Hizbullah. The indictment said the weapons were to have been bought from the sale of counterfeit money and passports.

“The crimes charged here range from the purchase of stolen and counterfeit goods, to the purchase of false visas and passports, to the purchase of weapons,” U.S. Attorney Michael Levy said.

The counterfeit ring was said to have been operating in Pennsylvania for several years and purchased such stolen goods as cellular telephones, laptop computers, Sony Play Station 2 systems and automobiles. Many of the goods were sold throughout the United States and abroad.

Officials said the FBI infiltrated the ring in 2007 and began supplying members with a range of purportedly stolen goods. They said the ring gave an FBI informer $9,800 in counterfeit U.S. currency.

Both Harb and Hodroj were identified as Lebanese natives. Officials did not say how the Hizbullah ring had planned to acquire and export the missiles and guns to Hizbullah.

In July 2009, a Hizbullah operative was alleged to have provided a $20,000 deposit for the Stingers and machine guns. Officials said the operative stressed that Hizbullah sought a missile that could down the U.S.-origin F-16 multi-role fighter, the staple of the Israel Air Force.

The suspect charged with seeking to obtain the FIM-92 Stingers was identified as Dani Nemr Tarraf. A criminal complaint unsealed on Nov. 23 said Tarraf had been negotiating with an FBI undercover agent to acquire the Stingers as well as 10,000 machine guns.

“Dani Nemr Tarraf conspired to acquire anti-aircraft missiles and conspired to possess machine guns,” the Justice Department said. “Tarraf asked whether the UC [undercover agent] could supply guided missiles and told the UC that he [Tarraf] wanted the UC to export approximately 10,000 ‘commando’ machine guns [Colt M4 Carbines with short barrels] from the United States.”

The $38,000, Raytheon built 36 pound, five feet long Stinger is a shoulder fired missile with a range of nearly 5 miles and a 10,000 feet ceiling. It is a fire and forget heat seeking surface to air weapon. It is used by the U. S. military and 29 allies and is reported to have downed 270 aircraft of various types. It was supplied to the Mujahadeen in a covert CIA effort and used against the Soviets in Afghanistan with devastating effect and is said to have been decisive.