Venezuela becomes safe haven for Hezbollah in Latin America, experts warn
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Hezbollah’s growing foothold in Latin America has found its epicenter in Venezuela; Here, U.S. lawmakers and former counterterrorism officials say the Maduro regime has turned the country into a safe haven for one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist groups, providing access to drug trafficking routes, forged documents and a gateway to the Western Hemisphere.
At an International Counternarcotics Senate meeting this week, both Republican and Democratic senators warned that Hezbollah’s integration into Latin America’s criminal underworld (once concentrated in Colombia and the triple border region) is now taking root under the protection of Venezuela.
Witnesses described passport schemes for terrorism that thrived on an illicit narcotics network, money laundering and state sponsorship, making Venezuela what one expert called “the most important facilitator of Hezbollah in Latin America.”
“Venezuela is a willing safe haven for what remains the most lethal and dangerous foreign terrorist organization to the United States,” said Marshall Billingslea, a former senior Treasury official.
Hezbollah’s growing foothold in Latin America has found its epicenter in Venezuela; Here, U.S. lawmakers and former counterterrorism officials say the Maduro regime has turned the country into a safe haven for one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist groups. (AFP via Getty Images)
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D.R.I. and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, warned that Hezbollah’s 50-year presence in Latin America now poses a hemispheric threat requiring coordinated action by the United States.
The sales encouraged more Latin American countries, particularly Brazil and Mexico, to designate Hezbollah as a full terrorist organization.
The rare bipartisan tone in today’s Congress underscored what lawmakers called a clear and present danger: a sanctioned regime providing protection to a global terrorist group in America’s backyard.
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“Venezuela has become a major enabler of Hezbollah’s malign activities in our region,” Sales said.
“This isn’t just about the Middle East anymore,” Cornyn added. “This is the story of a terrorist organization that established itself in the Western Hemisphere under the protection of a hostile regime.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, went a step further and predicted that the United States would take action to end Nicolás Maduro’s rule altogether.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, went a step further and predicted that the United States would take action to end Nicolás Maduro’s rule altogether. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
“I think we will liberate Venezuela,” Moreno said. “This will be one of President Trump’s many legacies. It’s long overdue, and I think his days are numbered.” Moreno added: “If [Maduro is] still in Venezuela by the end of this year,” signaling growing confidence that Washington may soon seek regime change in Caracas following seven attacks on alleged drug traffickers at sea.
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Billingslea and Cornyn pointed to evidence that Venezuelan officials have issued passports to Hezbollah officials, including former vice president Tareck El Aissami, who is accused of helping militants travel freely in the region.
According to Billingslea, more than 10,000 passports were issued to people from Syria, Lebanon and Iran under the former Venezuelan vice president; Some of these are known to have ties to Hezbollah or Hamas.
Eyewitnesses said the system allowed operators to hide their identities, launder money and even move to the United States with false documents.
Ambassador Nathan Sales, the State Department’s former counterterrorism coordinator, detailed how Hezbollah’s operations were incorporated into the regional drug trade — including smuggling “black cocaine” packed into charcoal-like briquettes to evade detection.
“Hezbollah trafficks narcotics through criminal networks operating in the tri-border region… It is particularly interested in the sale of black cocaine,” Sales said.
“I think we will liberate Venezuela,” Moreno said. “This will be one of President Trump’s many legacies. It’s long overdue, and I think his days are numbered.” Moreno added: “If [Maduro is] still in Venezuela by the end of this year,” signaling growing confidence that Washington may soon seek regime change in Caracas following seven attacks on alleged drug traffickers at sea. (Carlos Becerra/Getty Images)
He and others have warned that the group is increasingly relying on drug profits in Latin America to survive as sanctions tighten Iran and Hezbollah’s financial channels in the Middle East.
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Washington Institute’s Dr. Matthew Levitt said Venezuela has effectively joined what he calls the “escape axis,” a global sanctions-defying network connecting Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
“Venezuela plays a key role in this illicit network as it reaches the Western Hemisphere,” Levitt said, describing its role in gold smuggling, oil-for-cash deals and financial protection for Iran and Hezbollah.
