Ask Haviv Anything Episode 83: From ideology to narcotics, Hezbollah's business model, with Matt Levitt
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Jan 26, 2026 Matthew Levitt, a counterterrorism expert who directed Treasury intelligence on illicit finance, exposes Hezbollah's shift from regional militia to global criminal network. He maps narcotics routes, diaspora facilitators, and free-trade zone abuses. Short, sharp takes explore how financial pressures, Iran ties, and covert logistics power its recovery and the risks facing Lebanon.
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Hidden Duality Of Hezbollah
- Hezbollah deliberately hides its militant and criminal activities behind overt political and social services to preserve plausible legitimacy.
- Matthew Levitt’s podcast aims to expose the secret networks the group calls its “less you know, the better” rule.
Religious Justification For Crime
- Hezbollah adopted pragmatic religious rulings to justify involvement in narcotics and illicit finance targeting rival societies.
- FBI and DEA investigations uncovered that the group shifted from local to global money laundering to fund its agenda.
Diversification After Funding Shocks
- Hezbollah’s global criminal expansion accelerated after funding shocks from Iran, notably around 2009.
- The group diversified into narcotics, money laundering, and illicit arms procurement to replace lost Iranian support.