Venezuela has become a safe haven for Hezbollah in Latin America, experts warn

Hizbollah’s turban is growing Latin America It finds its epicenter in Venezuela, where 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 it with drug-trafficking routes, forged documents and a gateway to the Western Hemisphere.

At a Senate caucus hearing on international counternarcotics control this week, both Republican and Democratic senators warned that Hezbollah’s integration into Latin America’s criminal underworld — once based in Colombia and the tri-border region — is now taking root under the protection of Venezuela.

Witnesses described narcotics, money laundering and passport-for-terrorist schemes that flourished with state sponsorship, calling Venezuela “the most important facilitator for Hezbollah in Latin America.”

“Venezuela is a willing safe haven for the most lethal, dangerous foreign terrorist organization to the United States,” said Marshall Billingslea, a former senior Treasury official.

Hezbollah’s growing footprint in Latin America finds its epicenter in Venezuela, where US 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 terror groups. (AFP via Getty Images)

Sen. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, DR.I. and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, both warned that Hezbollah’s 50-year presence in Latin America is now a hemispheric threat that requires coordinated U.S. action.

Sales called on more Latin American nations — particularly Brazil and Mexico — to fully designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

The bipartisan tone, rare in today’s Congress, underscored what lawmakers called a clear and present danger: a sanctioned regime in America’s backyard providing protection to a global terrorist group.

US increases military presence in Caribbean near Venezuela amid Trump’s efforts to curb drug trafficking

“Venezuela has happened A key enabler of Hezbollah’s malign activities in our region,” Sales testified.

“It’s not just about the Middle East anymore,” Cornyn added. “It’s about a terrorist organization embedding itself in the Western Hemisphere under the protection of a hostile regime.”

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, went a step further, predicting that the United States would end Nicolas Maduro’s regime entirely.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, went a step further, predicting that the United States would end Nicolas Maduro’s regime entirely. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

“I think we are going to liberate Venezuela,” Moreno said. “That will be one of President Trump’s many, many legacies. It’s long overdue and I think his days are numbered.” Moreno added that he would be “surprised if (Maduro) is in Venezuela by the end of this year,” adding to the belief that Washington could soon bring about regime change in Caracas after seven raids on alleged drug traffickers at sea.

Senators are looking to prevent Trump from engaging in ‘hostilities’ in Venezuela

Billingslea and Cornyn pointed to evidence that Venezuelan authorities issued passports to Hezbollah operatives, including former vice president Tarek El Essami, who is accused of helping the militants travel freely across the region.

According to Billingsley, more than 10,000 passports were issued under the former Venezuelan vice president to individuals in Syria, Lebanon and Iran — some with known Hezbollah or Hamas ties.

Witnesses said the system allowed operatives to spoof identities, launder funds and travel to the US under false documents.

Ambassador Nathan Sells, the former State Department counterterrorism coordinator, detailed how Hezbollah’s operations were embedded. Regional drug trade — including trafficking in so-called “black cocaine,” compressed into charcoal-like briquettes to avoid detection.

“Hezbollah traffics narcotics through criminal networks active in the triple border area… it is particularly involved in the sale of black cocaine,” Sales said.

“I think we are going to liberate Venezuela,” Moreno said. “That will be one of President Trump’s many, many legacies. It’s long overdue and I think his days are numbered.” Moreno added that he would be “surprised if (Maduro) is in Venezuela by the end of this year,” adding to the belief that Washington could soon bring about regime change in Caracas after seven raids on alleged drug traffickers at sea. (Carlos Becerra/Getty Images)

He and others warned that the sanctions were squeezing economic channels in the Middle East for Iran and Hezbollah, a group increasingly dependent on Latin America. drug profits To sustain myself.

Click here to download the Fox News app

Washington Institute’s Dr. Matthew Levitt said Venezuela has effectively joined what he calls an “axis of wrongdoing” — a global sanctions-busting network linking Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

“Venezuela plays an important role in this illicit network as it reaches into the Western Hemisphere,” Levitt said, describing its role in smuggling gold, oil for cash, and providing financial cover to Iran and Hezbollah.