Reward Offered for Information on Hezbollah’s Financial Operations

In Latin America

The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information that could help dismantle the financial networks of Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

According to the RFJ statement, Hezbollah has maintained a presence in the Western Hemisphere since the 1980s, particularly in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay converge. The militant group is linked to several deadly attacks in the region, including the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Aid Society and the 1992 attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. Hezbollah, alongside Iran, was also implicated in the 1994 bombing of Alas Chiricanas flight 00901 in Colón, Panama.

The U.S. statement detailed that Hezbollah members, supporters, and facilitators operate extensive revenue-generating schemes in the TBA. These include trade-based money laundering, drug trafficking, smuggling of charcoal, oil, diamonds, cigarettes, and luxury goods, as well as document forgery and counterfeiting of U.S. currency. Hezbollah also generates income through legitimate business ventures across Latin America, such as construction, import-export, and real estate.

Hezbollah’s financial networks in the region involve multinational actors who generate millions of dollars that are funneled back to the group’s operations in the Middle East. The RFJ program is calling for information that could lead to the disruption of these financial channels. Specifically, the reward targets intelligence on major revenue sources, financial contributors, transactions benefiting Hezbollah, front companies, criminal schemes, and the transfer of funds or material to Hezbollah’s affiliates.

Hezbollah was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department in 1997 and labeled a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity in 2001, making all its property subject to U.S. jurisdiction frozen and prohibiting U.S. persons from conducting transactions with the group. Providing material support to Hezbollah is punishable under U.S. law.