The US Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control convened a hearing on Tuesday to examine suspected connections between Hezbollah and Latin American drug trafficking networks, as lawmakers warned of the group’s expanding footprint in the Western Hemisphere.
Chaired by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the bipartisan session focused on Hezbollah’s reported use of Latin America as a financial and logistical hub to fund operations in the Middle East, as well as the US government’s efforts to counter those activities.
“The Foreign Terrorist Organization known as Hezbollah has posed a significant threat to US national security and to our ally, Israel, since it emerged from the violence of the Lebanese Civil War,” Cornyn said in his opening remarks. He added that the group’s activities “are not geographically confined to the Middle East,” citing reports of drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons procurement across Latin America.
Lawmakers and witnesses pointed to Venezuela as the center of Hezbollah’s regional network, alleging that the Maduro government has enabled the group’s access to smuggling routes, forged travel documents and financial cover. “Venezuela has become a key enabler of Hezbollah’s malign activity in our region,” testified former State Department counterterrorism coordinator Ambassador Nathan Sales.
Sales and other witnesses described a complex web of illicit trade, from narcotics and counterfeit goods to gold smuggling and oil-for-cash deals, that allegedly funds Hezbollah operations. They warned that as Iran faces tighter sanctions and reduced ability to finance its allies, Hezbollah may increasingly rely on Latin American criminal enterprises.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chair of the caucus, echoed concerns about Hezbollah’s integration into Latin America’s criminal underworld and called for greater oversight of international financial networks. “If we target Hezbollah’s financing, we can deny them the opportunity to rebuild,” Whitehouse said, urging stricter measures.
While the hearing underscored rare bipartisan agreement, some senators linked the issue to broader geopolitical tensions. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) suggested that the US could move to end President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, calling Venezuela “a safe haven for one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist groups.”
The discussion comes as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean, including recent military strikes on suspected smuggling operations.
Cornyn said the hearing aimed to reassess the evolving threat posed by Hezbollah in light of its reported losses in the Middle East and the potential for expanded activity in the Western Hemisphere. “In this critical time,” he said, “Hezbollah may seek to further expand its Latin American drug trafficking and money laundering networks, and that’s why we are holding this hearing today.”
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