Latin Hezbollah, drug trafficking to finance terrorism in Venezuela

Eslam Mohamed

International attention has been drawn to Hezbollah’s activity in Latin America following tougher sanctions on Venezuela and Iran. In February, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacked Hezbollah’s activity, saying that changing the regime of Nicolas Maduro would end Venezuela’s relationship with Hezbollah.

The island of Margarita, Venezuela, is a safe haven for Hezbollah terrorists, who control drug trafficking that reach Venezuela and then to African countries.

Hezbollah and the Quds Force have succeeded in dominating part of the drug trade in areas close to the Andes and the Caribbean.

Former head of Venezuela’s intelligence services Hugo Carvajal revealed powerful ties between the administration of President Nicolás Maduro and the Hezbollah terrorist group, as well as wide-spread corruption and drug activity.

The nefarious activities were directed by Maduro himself as well as Interior Minister Néstor Reverol and former vice-president Tareck El Aissami, according to Carvajalm who added that those who were meant to combat drugs were engaged in trafficking them.

El Aissami was not only a drug kingpin, said Carvajal, but also had connections to Hezbollah, and attempted to arrange Hezbollah terrorists to work with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia [FARC] through Venezuela.

For his part, Mohammad Ebadi, a researcher on Iranian affairs, said Hezbollah has a large presence in the troubled tripartite border region of South America (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina) and uses tens of millions of dollars in drug trafficking and money laundering to finance terrorist activities.

According to reports, there are about one million Shiites living in Brazil who are loyal to Hezbollah. The party uses their loyalty to receive financial support and uses their commercial relations for its benefit, including dealing with criminal organizations. There are also many countries that are infiltrated by the terrorist cells of Iran, however, Venezuela is considered the foundation, the party coordinates with the government and controls the gold mines and terrorist camps in the east of the country.