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Hezbollah's Involvement in the Mexican Drug War: Uncovering the Threat

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The U.S. is spending over $15 billion in 2010 to fight the "war on drugs," a term that has been deliberately avoided by the White House, despite the presence of Hezbollah's involvement with Mexican drug cartels. Representatives Michael McCaul and Jeff Duncan highlighted the significant threat posed by Hezbollah's activities in the region, citing evidence of their cooperation with Mexican cartels in smuggling and money laundering.

Key Takeaways:

  • Hezbollah has a long history of cooperation with Mexican drug cartels, dating back to at least 2007, with evidence of their involvement in smuggling, money laundering, and tunneling expertise.
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged the presence of Hezbollah sympathizers and operatives in Mexico, with over 180,000 non-Mexican individuals captured at the southern border between 2007 and 2010.
  • A Kuwaiti newspaper reported in July 2010 that Mexico foiled an attempt by Hezbollah to establish a network in South America, highlighting the international reach of their operations.
  • The threat posed by Hezbollah's involvement in the Mexican drug war warrants further investigation, with experts citing evidence of their cooperation with cartels in Western Africa, South America, and Central America.
  • The Department of Defense (DOD) has accelerated the deployment of equipment under the Merida Initiative, with a goal of executing 100% of coastal surveillance aircraft by the time of the next year.
  • The absence of a taskforce to investigate Hezbollah's presence and activities in the region is a concern, with a lack of clear response from DHS officials.
  • Close cooperation exists between U.S. and Mexican government actors, with fluid relationships bearing real fruits in combating drug trafficking, gun trafficking, human trafficking, and organized crime.

Statistics:

  • $15 billion: U.S. spending on the "war on drugs" in 2010.
  • 180,000: Number of non-Mexican individuals captured at the southern border between 2007 and 2010.
  • 2005: Year in which Mahmoud Youssef Kourani crossed the border from Mexico into California and was sentenced to 4-1/2 years in prison for conspiring to raise money for Hezbollah.
  • 2007: Year in which Hezbollah's involvement with Mexican cartels began.
  • 2010: Year in which a Kuwaiti newspaper reported that Mexico foiled an attempt by Hezbollah to establish a network in South America.

Sources:

  • Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC)
  • Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX)
  • Assistant Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, Luis Alvarez
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State, Brian Nichols
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary, Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of Defense, Frank Mora
  • Analyst, Domestic Social Policy Division, Congressional Research Service, Kristin Finklea
  • President, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Jon Adler
  • Director, Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego, David Shirk
  • Professor, Government and Foreign Service, Georgetown University, John Bailey
  • Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Ricardo C. Ainslie

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