Hezbollah and Iran are using Venezuela’s narco-state to fund terrorism through cocaine trafficking and money laundering, according to U.S. officials and former DEA agents. Venezuelan cartels, including the Cartel of the Suns and Tren de Aragua, are working with Hezbollah to move cocaine and launder profits through the Middle East.
Hezbollah does not traffic drugs directly. Instead, it provides international laundering networks that enable cartels to clean drug money. Hezbollah takes a cut, using the profits to finance operations across Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. A former DEA official described this as a “narco-terrorist model,” where Islamic extremists and socialist regimes exploit organized crime for financial gain.
The Venezuelan government, led by Nicolás Maduro, plays a direct role. Military officers and port authorities under Maduro’s regime allow cocaine to flow through state infrastructure. Hezbollah helps launder the revenue using connections across the Middle East and in Latin America’s Lebanese diaspora communities.
One recent U.S. operation targeted a Venezuelan vessel suspected of trafficking drugs. The ship was believed to be linked to Hezbollah and Iranian proxy operations. Experts called it a rare but important strike against the group’s revenue pipeline.
U.S. intelligence has tracked Hezbollah’s Latin American operations for over a decade. Under “Project Cassandra,” the DEA exposed how Hezbollah built global money laundering networks through South American drug cartels. Hezbollah funneled profits through West Africa and Europe to fuel its terror campaigns.
The group’s influence in the Tri-Border Area—where Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina meet—remains strong. It uses businesses, mosques, and charities to move funds under the radar. These operations continue to grow as Hezbollah deepens ties with criminal groups and corrupt governments in the Western Hemisphere.
Iran backs this strategy through military and political support to Venezuela. Tehran has expanded cooperation with Maduro’s regime, including military advisors, air routes, and joint economic ventures. The partnership enables both countries to resist U.S. sanctions while jointly destabilizing the region.
Analysts warn that unless disrupted, this alliance poses a growing threat to U.S. national security. By targeting drug profits and money laundering channels, the U.S. can undercut both Hezbollah’s global reach and Iran’s influence in Latin America.
