"Venezuela and Hezbollah-- These links did not grow from culture or geography. They grew from shared enemies, sanctions, and money.
The connection began to take shape in the early 2000s. Venezuela’s leadership took a strong anti-US position under President Hugo Chávez. His government built close ties with Iran and Syria.
When Nicolás Maduro became Venezuela’s foreign minister, he continued this strategy. In 2007, he traveled to Syria and Iran to strengthen alliances. During that trip, US and intelligence sources say Maduro also met a senior Hezbollah figure in private.
They tracked drug money, fake documents, and transport routes. One major concern involved Venezuelan passports. American officials allege that Venezuela issued travel documents to people from the Middle East with little oversight. These papers allowed holders to move freely across borders.
Another focus involved Conviasa, Venezuela’s state airline. According to former US officials, flights from Caracas to Damascus and Tehran carried more than passengers. Investigators suspected they moved cash and illicit goods. They believe this activity took place with official knowledge inside Venezuela.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration launched a major probe called Project Cassandra. The goal focused on Hezbollah’s global crime network. The investigation uncovered drug routes from South America to Europe and the Middle East. Cocaine sales generated large profits. Money laundering systems moved those funds through shell companies and exchange houses.
One key figure in the case was Ayman Jomaa. Prosecutors described him as a Lebanese drug trafficker with deep ties to Hezbollah. They accused him of running a vast network that linked Colombia and Venezuela to buyers overseas.
Investigators also flagged Margarita Island. This tourist destination sits off Venezuela’s coast. Officials say it became a financial hub for illicit trade. The island hosts a large Lebanese community.
Venezuela holds vast gold reserves. Illegal mining expanded as the economy collapsed. Smugglers moved gold through regional routes. US filings now allege that some of this trade linked to Hezbollah-connected money launderers. Crypto platforms also entered the picture. Digital assets allowed fast transfers with limited oversight.
Venezuela offered access. Hezbollah offered money flows and networks. Both sides gained options under sanctions. The system relied on officials, fixers, and trusted intermediaries."
DefTechTimes
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