By Edelmiro Franco V. | 2025-04-09

BOGOTA -- Hizbullah is deepening its ties with drug cartels in the so-called Triple Frontier -- the tri-border area among Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay -- and is expanding its operations across Latin America.

Recent reports reveal that the group's main objectives in the region include engaging in illicit activities linked to drug trafficking, such as money laundering and arms smuggling.

The Iran-backed Lebanese Shia political-military organization is reportedly training personnel in criminal tactics in Latin America to prepare and carry out terrorist attacks against political and economic targets in the United States and Israel.

The alarm was first raised this year in a January report by the International Center for Research and Analysis against Maritime Narcotrafficking (CMCON).

According to the report, Hizbullah's growing presence in Latin America --particularly in the "Triple Frontier" region -- appears to be part of a broader strategy to gain geopolitical and economic footholds in the region.

CMCON, which promotes cooperation among navies, maritime services and coast guards across the Americas, warned that "the creation of terrorist cells in support of Hizbullah's strategic political objectives is likely to increase" and bolster illicit economies tied to drug trafficking and transnational crime.

These criminal operations may be facilitated by Iranian-backed networks already operating in Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, the report suggests.

Mounting regional concern

The group's presence in the region is primarily driven by efforts to raise funds and diversify its global operations, Marzia Giamberton of the Middle East Institute argued in a March 31 analysis titled "Hizbullah's Networks in Latin America."

Hizbullah has demonstrated the capability to target Israeli and US interests in Latin America, she warned.

"Networks affiliated with the organization's fundraising operations in the region have evolved in scope and sophistication over the past three decades," Giamberton said.

Several countries in the region -- among them Argentina, Colombia, Honduras and Paraguay -- have formally designated Hizbullah as a terrorist organization, underscoring mounting regional concern over its activities, said Giamberton.

According to Giamberton's report, networks within the Lebanese diaspora -- ranging from committed sympathizers to individuals with loose or indirect connections to the group -- have established ties with organized crime to generate revenue that ultimately supports Hizbullah's operations.

"These funding mechanisms reportedly encompass drug trafficking, arms trafficking, human trafficking, illegal mining, identity theft and money-laundering schemes," she said.

In this context, the CMCON report warns that "a complex scenario could arise, involving the construction of mosques or Islamic centers in strategic locations aimed at consolidating control over key territories."

These cells reportedly seek to identify business targets vulnerable to infiltration by drug trafficking and transnational crime, using them as entry points to extend their criminal-political influence and to expand illicit operations both regionally and globally.

Hizbullah's ties to the Lebanese diaspora in Latin America are reportedly expanding beyond the "Triple Frontier" region.

According to CMCON, the group has established financial and logistical support networks in areas such as Margarita Island in Venezuela, consolidating its presence on other parts of the continent.

Intelligence reports suggest close links between Hizbullah operatives and government officials in Venezuela.

Links to Iran

Meanwhile, a Lisa News report titled "The Tentacles of Iran and Hizbullah in Latin America," published last October 7, highlights a series of developments in 2023 that point to Iran's expanding presence in the region.

While these events initially may appear isolated, the report underscores a common thread: the growing influence of both Tehran and Hizbullah.

This strategy aims to secure control over Latin America's natural resources, said author Lucia Brogiolo in the report.

"Uranium reserves in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela are strategic, as they could be used, among other things, in the production of nuclear weapons," she warned.

The region holds significant reserves of lithium and thorium -- critical materials for missile development, the Lisa News report noted.

Iran could potentially establish two mineral export routes: one via Venezuela and another through Chile, channeling resources from Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

In light of these developments, CMCON stresses that Hizbullah is "not just another criminal organization; its structure appears to have clearly defined transnational political and economic objectives."