European authorities uncover Hezbollah's money laundering network in EU countries, linking profits to fund terrorist activities. DEA reveals high-ranking Hezbollah operatives involved. Podcast explores Hezbollah's criminal enterprise, drug trafficking, and global network. Guests discuss encounters with mysterious businessmen and tensions within the illicit scheme. DEA investigations shed light on Hezbollah's narco-money laundering operations and connections to South American cartels.
Hezbollah engages in criminal activities to diversify income, leading to drug cartel collaborations and global illicit networks.
DEA's Project Cassandra dismantled Hezbollah's European cell, exposing drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapon procurement activities.
Deep dives
Hezbollah's Golden Rule
Breaking the Hezbollah's terrorist unit's rule of 'the less you know, the better,' we delve into their clandestine activities across Europe from bombings in Greece to an operative arrested in Denmark. Despite heavy funding from Iran, Hezbollah engages in criminal enterprises to diversify income, leading to expansive drug cartel collaborations and global illicit networks.
Operation Titan and Operation Smoke Screen
Operation Titan uncovered Hezbollah's intricate drug smuggling and money laundering operation in connection with Colombian cartels, showcasing their clandestine alliances. Collaborative efforts between U.S. and Colombian authorities led to the takedown of the network, exposing Hezbollah's multifaceted criminal activities. Initial investigations into drug cartels in 2004 unveiled Hezbollah's involvement in a sophisticated money laundering ring, linking drug profits to fund the group's operations.
Global Criminal Support Network
DEA's Project Cassandra targeted Hezbollah's global criminal network, revealing their extensive drug and weapons trafficking schemes. Through coordinated efforts like Operation Cedar, law enforcement agencies across multiple countries dismantled Hezbollah's European cell, uncovering drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapon procurement activities. These operations exposed Hezbollah as a global criminal enterprise beyond terrorism.
Chant Exchange and International Laundering
Chant Exchange served as a pivotal hub for laundering drug profits for Hezbollah across continents, connecting profits from Beirut to Latin America. Investigations revealed Hezbollah's procurement of weapons using drug proceeds, facilitating their involvement in conflicts like the Syrian War. Despite substantial risks, Hezbollah's global criminal activities, including intricate money laundering schemes, illustrate a sophisticated operation intertwining crime with terrorism.
European authorities weren’t looking for Hezbollah when they investigated a massive money laundering network operating across at least seven EU countries. But when they reached out to their close partners at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA came back with startling information: the gang included high-ranking Hezbollah operatives and sent its profits back to Lebanon to fund Hezbollah terrorist activities. Why would Hezbollah risk drawing additional attention from law enforcement?