Thousands of Forged Passports and Millions in Funding: How Hezbollah Infiltrates Venezuela

Delsy Rodriguez assumed power in Caracas in January, succeeding detained President Nicolas Maduro. Despite adopting a "rhetorical and diplomatic" iron policy against Iran and its proxies in Latin America, she has yet to implement real measures capable of uprooting the influence of armed militias close to Tehran, particularly Hezbollah.

Political circles in Venezuela have leveled strong accusations against Delsy Rodriguez's government for failing to seriously and effectively address the issue of Hezbollah's presence in the country.

The Venezuelan government focused on managing the political transition and preparing for legislative and presidential elections during its first months. Although this effort was materially and logistically drained by the severe wave of earthquakes last June, these reasons do not explain—according to many Venezuelan political and legislative readings—the official hesitation in dealing with Hezbollah.

These readings are based on high-level US assurances that Venezuela has become Hezbollah's primary financial engine in the Western Hemisphere. The militia relies on a massive financial network that integrates transcontinental drug trafficking, proceeds from illegal mining (especially gold), and money laundering networks exploiting the lack of oversight and rampant corruption within Venezuelan state institutions.

Venezuelan media sources align with warnings from US Congress members that the militia has managed to penetrate Latin America, not only thanks to complex money laundering systems whose details have emerged over past years, but more dangerously due to forged identity documents. This suggests the involvement of corrupt official parties facilitating Hezbollah's infiltration into the Venezuelan landscape specifically and the Latin American scene generally.

Venezuelan political, security, and intelligence agencies reveal highly sensitive information that could push the entire Latin American region to the brink. This includes former Vice President Tareck El Aissami issuing more than 10,000 Venezuelan passports to individuals from Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. Authorities acknowledge that many holders have strong and known ties to Hezbollah or the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Sources indicate that facilitating the issuance of authentic passports and official IDs with fake data for individuals belonging to Hezbollah networks or associated Iranian entities has very serious repercussions. It reveals a breach in security apparatuses and grants holders exceptional freedom of movement across Latin American border airports and passage into European and American countries without raising security suspicions.

Sources argue that this constitutes a massive intelligence loophole threatening US and international national security. Consequently, the Venezuelan passport issued during the rule of Nicolas Maduro and Tareck El Aissami has become a bureaucratic tool for the transit of elements affiliated with terrorist networks and cross-border crime organizations.

In a related context regarding the militia's financial influence in the region, US intelligence agencies estimate that one-third of Hezbollah's funding comes from Latin America.

Financial estimates suggest that approximately $200 million annually is generated by complex networks planted in Latin America with very close ties to the terrorist militia. Intelligence sources attribute this to corrupt Venezuelan officials who facilitate the flow of these funds.

Sources warn of the dangers of continuing this situation, especially as Hezbollah networks exploit free zones, including the border areas of Guajira and Arauca, and the Colombian Maicao zone, to transfer or launder money.

They noted that the militia cooperates with terrorist groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), in smuggling drugs and gold. Its funding sources have partially shifted to Latin America following local, regional, and international financial pressures.

According to well-informed security sources, Hezbollah's activity in Latin America dates back about five decades. However, it has recently intensified its operations, expanded its alliance system, and increased the utilization of its remote networks.

This move aims to compensate for the harsh military and logistical losses suffered by the militia in its confrontation with Israel, and to provide liquidity to compensate its popular base for significant infrastructure losses after the Israeli army demolished several homes in southern Lebanon.

Erem News