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Thread: seems @FAIRmediawatch didn't like @washingtonpost @JobyWarrick @smekhennet reporting on #Hezbollah narco-trafficking, or my @Georgetown_UP book noting the same. Here's the snarky, poorly researched piece, I'll share some actual evidence below https://fair.org/home/jumping-on-the-hezbollah-narcoterrorism-bandwagon/
2. Here's the @washingtonpost piece by @JobyWarrick & @smekhennet citing @DEAHQ sources https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/hezbollah-operatives-seen-behind-spike-in-drug-trafficking-analysts-say/2020/08/03/fa286b1a-d36a-11ea-8c55-61e7fa5e82ab_story.html
3. Here are some recent intl cases, which @FAIRmediawatch could have but apparently did not review, demonstrating #Hezbollah involvement in narco-trafficking. I include many of these docs in my interactive map. First up, Iman Kobeissi & Joseph Asmar https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////
4. 2015: Iman Kobeissi arrested in Atlanta & her associate, Joseph Asmar arrested in Paris 4 conspiring to launder narcotics proceeds & intl arms trafficking 4 #Hezbollah. In a recorded conversations, they discussed money laundering 4 drug traffickers https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=533
5. Kobeissi & Asmar offered “Hizballah-connected associates” to provide security for drug shipments. An associate in UK laundered £30,000 4 @DEAHQ undercover agent, discussed distribution of cocaine, & requested to purchase multiple kilos of cocaine https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=543
6. Next, Op Cedear & Mohammad Nouredine, a joint US-Euro investigation revealing significant #Hezbollah drug trafficking & drug proceed money laundering operation. Paris court convicts Nouredine & others https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=598
7. Op Cedar included investigations in several European countries & included Europol, Eurojust, and authorities in France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium. 4 arrests were carried out in Germany, for example. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=690
8. Other cases: In 2016 Hezbollah associate and dual Lebanese-Canadian citizen Hassan Mohsen Mansour is placed under house arrest in Paris for laundering cocaine proceeds https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=961
9. 2016: Mohammad Ahmad Ammar arrested in CA on money laundering & other charges--laundering scheme extended to West Africa, Holland, Spain, Britain, & UAE. Ammar boasted of his #Hezbollah links in conversations with undercover agents https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=608
10. FMW belittled Op Titan, but Harb told an undercover @DEAHQ agent about his drug smuggling routes & bragged he could get 950 kg of drugs into Lebanon within hours. In response to suggestion he must have Hezbollah ties, Harb “just smiled and nodded” https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=1025
11. 2019: @USTreasury lists the Chams Money Laundering Org & Chams Exchange Company S.A.L. 4 narcotics trafficking, noting its affiliation with #Hezbollah & millions of dollars in monthly drug money laundered for Hezbollah https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=693
12. Last year, DOJ extradited “Hezbollah Associated Narco-Money Launderer” Ghassan Diab from Cyprus to stand trial in the U.S., part of DEA “Operation Reconquista” https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=687
13. May 2020 Former Venezuelan National Assembly member Adel El Zabayar charged re narco-terrorism conspiracy, a cocaine importation conspiracy, and related weapons offenses involving the use and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/hezbollahinteractivemap////////////#id=780
14. There's lots to discuss & debate re #Hezbollah drug activities, but serious debate cannot ignore the facts, court cases, and multiple international investigations. LH narco activity is recorded in reports by @StateDeptCT , @USTreasury , @ODNI NCTC, & more
15. For example of serious debate, see this long form white paper I wrote for @lawfareblog appropriately entitled "In Search of Nuance" https://www.lawfareblog.com/matthew-levitt-search-nuance
