Hezbollah’s underground financial operations in South America, particularly in Paraguay, continue to thrive despite US sanctions on key officials. The Tri-border region connecting Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay serves as a hub for financing terrorism through money laundering.
In January 2023, the US Treasury Department sanctioned former Paraguayan President Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara and Vice President Hugo Adalberto Velazquez Moreno for their involvement in corruption and ties to Hezbollah. The ongoing illicit activities supported by these officials hinder efforts to tackle Hezbollah’s money laundering networks.
Paraguay’s Attorney General Emiliano Rolón Fernández’s lack of action against terrorism financing operations further enables Hezbollah’s activities. The country’s connections to the terror group pose a significant threat, especially as Israel faces the prospect of a multi-front war.
The US government’s failure to address Hezbollah’s South American ties, under both the Biden administration and previous administrations, contributes to the problem. There is a pressing need for stronger action to disrupt the flow of funds from South America to Hezbollah, as the consequences are felt in Israel.
It is crucial for Israeli and American leaders to address the corruption and illicit activities of Hezbollah’s enablers in South America to safeguard national security interests. Until this issue is effectively tackled, the threat posed by Hezbollah in Paraguay will persist, impacting innocent civilians in Israel.