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The tri-border area nine

A friend just sent me this article,
Treasury Targets Hizballah Fundraising Network in the Triple Frontier of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated nine individuals and two entities that have provided financial and logistical support to the Hizballah terrorist organization. The designees are located in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay and have provided financial and other services for Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) Assad Ahmad Barakat, who was previously designated in June 2004 for his support to Hizballah leadership.

“Assad Ahmad Barakat’s network in the Tri-Border Area is a major financial artery to Hizballah in Lebanon,” said Adam Szubin, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). “Today’s action aims to disrupt this channel and to further unravel Barakat’s financial network.”

This designation was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which is aimed at shutting down the financial flows supporting terrorism. Designations prohibit transactions or dealings between U.S. persons and the named individuals and entities and also freeze any assets they may have under U.S jurisdiction.

The nine individuals are Muhammad Yusif Abdallah, Hamzi Ahmad Barakat, Hatim Ahmad Barakat, Muhammad Fayez Barakat, Muhammad Tarabain Chamas, Saleh Mahmoud Fayad, Sobhi Mahmoud Fayad, Ali Muhammad Kazan, and Farouk Omairi.

Let’s hope the Treasury Department has told the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Additionally,

Casa Hamze

Casa Hamze is an electronics company located at the Galeria Page shopping center in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. The store is owned by Hizballah member Hamzi Ahmad Barakat and has employed Hizballah members in the TBA. Money was reportedly sent from Casa Hamze to Hizballah.

Galeria Page

Galeria Page, a shopping center in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, serves as a source of fundraising for Hizballah in the TBA and is locally considered the central headquarters for Hizballah members in the TBA. Galeria Page is managed and owned by TBA Hizballah members, including members of the Barakat network. Local Hizballah members operate businesses within Galeria Page and funds generated from these businesses support Hizballah. Muhammad Yusif Abdallah, a manager of Galeria Page, paid a regular quota to Hizballah based on profits he received from Galeria Page. Shops in the building have also been involved in illicit activity, including the sale of counterfeit U.S. dollars.

The government of Brazil insists there is No evidence of terror links in border area.

Update, Friday December 15: Hezbollah in Latin America

Prior posts: Hezbollah in Latin America
Hezbollah in Latin America: history

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Comments

  1. While we may not be able to control what happens beyond our borders, posts like this really drive how the fact that we need to be in control of our borders at all times.

  2. My apologies for being so vague, but some years back, The Wall Street Journal had a depressingly informative article on this topic. Good hunting, researchers.