Narco-Terror Concerns in Latin America

Amid New Concerns About a Possible Attack in Latin America, the US Designates Terror-Sponsors in Venezuela.
By RICHARD ESPOSITO, JASON RYAN, AND KIRIT RADIA
June 18, 2008
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Amid growing concerns that Hezbollah is planning attacks outside the Middle East, perhaps in Latin America, the United States Treasury Department today accused Venezuela of harboring Hezbollah "facilitators and fundraisers."


(ABC News Photo Illustration/Hezbollah supporters at a march in Lebanon.)

The Treasury Department designated Ghazi Nasr al Din and Fawzi Kan'an, along with two travel agencies in Caracas owned by Kan'an as supporters of Hezbollah and froze all their assets that are under US jurisdiction. Al Din is a Venezuelan diplomat and runs an Islamic Center.

"It is extremely troubling to see the Government of Venezuela employing and providing safe harbor to Hezbollah facilitators and fundraisers," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Both men met with Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon and facilitated their travel to Venezuela, according to Treasury.

In response to Treasury's action, the Venezuelan government issued a statement saying that "Hezbollah is a political party legally operating in Lebanon".

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5197261&page=1