Colombia breaks up Hezballah drug, money laundering operation

Reuters:

Colombian authorities said on Tuesday they broke up a drug and money-laundering ring in an international operation that included the capture of three people suspected of shipping funds to Hezbollah guerrillas.

More than 100 suspects were arrested in Colombia and overseas on charges they trafficked drugs and laundered cash for Colombia's Norte del Valle cartel and for outlawed paramilitaries in a network that stretched from South America to Asia, the attorney's general office said.

"The criminal organisation used routes through Venezuela, Panama, Guatemala, Middle East and Europe, bringing in cash from the sale of these substances," the statement said.

Among those arrested in Colombia were three people suspected of coordinating drug smuggling to send some of their profits to groups such as Hezbollah, the office said.

Those suspects -- Chekry Mahmoud Harb, Ali Mohamad Abdul Rahim and Zacaria Hussein Harb -- used front companies to send drug cash overseas, it said without providing further details.

...

Those don't sound like your typical Colombian names. Note the trafficking routes include Venezuela which appears to be a major facilitator of drugs.

The only surprising thing about this report is that it did not list the West African connection for the distribution of drugs to Europe and the Middle East. Haiti is also sometimes a way point on the trip to Africa. The dominate route is Venezuela, Haiti and then some of the failed states on the West Coast of Africa. From there the drugs are shipped north.

It seems pretty hypocritical for the pious Muslims of Hezballah who would dodge a beer or a highball to be in the dope business.

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