With financial support from Iran drying up following a devastating 12-day war, Hezbollah terrorists are flooding into Venezuela to take over lucrative drug trafficking routes and save their failing budget.
As the financial grip of the Islamic Republic of Iran weakens in the wake of internal crises and successful Israeli military campaigns, its primary proxy, Hezbollah, is rapidly shifting its operations to Latin America. Recent intelligence indicates that the terror group is increasingly reliant on drug trafficking and money laundering within Venezuela to replenish its depleted coffers. This strategic pivot comes as Hezbollah faces a massive budget shortfall, with Iranreportedly unable to continue providing the $700 million annual subsidy that previously covered 70 percent of the terror group's expenses.
The influx of terror operatives into South America has reached a critical level. Former Treasury official Marshall Billingslea recently revealed that more than 400 Hezbollah field commanders were specifically directed to evacuate to Latin America, with Venezuela identified as the primary destination. These commanders join an estimated 11,000 other operatives who have established a presence in the country over the last decade. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that Venezuela serves as the Islamic Republic's hub in the Western Hemisphere, where they have planted their flag with the full and open cooperation of the Maduro regime.
The core of Hezbollah's new revenue stream is the trade in "black cocaine," a substance chemically altered to resemble charcoal bricks to evade detection by customs authorities. Estimates suggest that Hezbollah moves as much as $400 million worth of cocaine through Latin American criminal networks annually, a figure believed to have spiked as other funding sources vanished. Former Attorney General Bill Barr described Venezuela as a strategic adversary and a base for Hezbollah, noting that the regime facilitates drug trafficking into the United States through various money laundering deals. (Read More)
