This combo of booking photos released by Linn County Sheriff's Office in Cedar Rapids. Iowa, shows four relatives, from left, Adam Herz, Ali Herz, Bassem Herz and Al Sarah Zeaiter, who are charged in Iowa on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, with conspiring to smuggle guns and ammunition to Lebanon that were hidden with equipment exports and supplies for Syrian refugees. Federal agents intercepted cargo containers in March and again last week that were bound for Beirut carrying a total of 152 firearms and 16,000 rounds of ammunition, according to a criminal complaint. The complaint says the four came under suspicion as they stockpiled more than $100,000 worth of guns and ammunition legally purchased from dealers in eastern Iowa over the last 17 months. (Linn County Sheriff's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – A federal agent says he doesn't yet know who the intended recipients were of guns and ammunition that were intercepted on their way from Iowa to Lebanon.
Chris Cantrell of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security testified Friday at a detention hearing for three of the four relatives charged Tuesday with illegally shipping the firearms. Defense attorneys had declined to comment after Tuesday's hearing.
Cantrell says one of the suspects, 50-year-old Ali Herz, has made public statements supporting Hezbollah, the political and military organization based in Lebanon, and may have met with group members in 1992. Cantrell says he has no information indicating where the guns and ammunition were supposed to go after reaching Beirut but the investigation is continuing.
A judge is expected to rule Friday on their detention.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
