Hezbollah Intensifies Drug Trade in Europe.. Searching for Alternative Funding Sources

Hezbollah Intensifies Drug Trade in Europe.. Searching for Alternative Funding Sources
Hezbollah's accelerated attempts to boost drug trade in Europe show the impact of Israeli strikes on its traditional financial resources, while the group's current financial crisis reveals its increas
October 23, 2024, 8:34 pm

المخدرات (أرشيف)

A Voice of America investigation revealed Hezbollah militia's frantic efforts to intensify drug trafficking operations in Europe, following severe blows to its main funding sources due to ongoing Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon.

The investigation highlighted the disruption of three main funding sources for the militia: Al-Qard Al-Hassan Foundation, collapsed commercial banks, and cash flows through Beirut International Airport.

David Asher, former official at the U.S. Departments of Defense and State, stated in exclusive comments: "I was told they are being contacted to arrange drug trafficking operations on behalf of Hezbollah-affiliated entities as quickly as possible... This doesn't mean there's actually more drugs on the streets yet, but I expect it because Hezbollah's money is at risk in Lebanon."

A 2022 Europol report indicated that the Lebanese militia had made the European Union "a base for fundraising, recruitment, and criminal activities from which it derives significant profits."

Hans-Jakob Schindler, Director of the "Counter Extremism Project," stated that Europe represents the world's largest cocaine market, surpassing the United States, noting the militia's evolving relationships with drug cartels in South America.

Security officials dismissed the likelihood of Hezbollah's success in expanding its criminal activity, citing two main factors: fierce competition from other organized crime groups and intense monitoring by European security agencies.

Quentin Mugg, a French police officer at Europol, pointed to increased drug shipment seizures in recent years, confirming the agency's focus on tracking encrypted communications of smugglers.

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