Narco terrorism is an increasing and significant influence on the war on terror. Be it from financing terrorism to purchasing weapons or training operatives to execute attacks or to destabilize regions by perpetuating terror, violence, or corruption, this deadly nexus of terrorism and Narcotics has far-reaching consequences.
Terrorist groups have long recognized the lucrative potential of the narcotics trade. By controlling or influencing drug production, transportation, and distribution, these organizations can generate substantial revenue to fund their operations. This connection is evident in various regions: Afghanistan, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Certain notable influences have been evident in recent wars and episodes of terror. Hezbollah’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking in Lebanon and beyond. In the Middle East Hezbollah’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking has been linked to their financial support networks. This unregulated trade has spiked the groups of terrorism and corruption. Hezbollah proved to be a support after the pandemic, financial crisis, and US sanctions on Lebanon. Further, Hezbollah has been instrumental in distributing opium and heroin in the Middle East with its network in Lebanon.
Hezbollah has been found linked in the geography from Syria- to Jordan, to Saudi Arabia, UAE to central and southern Europe. They have stepped up the whole business with Captagon, which is a synthetic drug. They expanded their operations to multiply their money to fund and bring money to their associations as an additional income. This cartel gets strengthened when they begin sharing their profits in their supply chain network to trade cross-border consignments. “They are seen working with Sunni criminals, Christian criminals, and even with Jewish crime syndicates.”- John Fernandez, Head of US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Counter Narco Terrorism Operations Centre.
This network indicates Terror has no religion or ideology while they have to make money for funding. They embrace their enemies which further gives them a strong reinforcement. There have been multiple instances of reported Hezbollah opium trafficking activities:
2009 A Hezbollah-linked individual was sanctioned for opium trafficking.
2012 DEA reports of Hezbollah for their involvement in trafficking opium from Afghanistan to Europe.
This money-making business through trafficking has evolved Hezbollah from a terrorist group to a Political party. Subsequently, they grew in Lebanese politics and were even reported to have backing from Ahmad Jalal Reda Abdallah, a businessman in Lebanon.
Once the network of these people strengthens with their diversified group activities, they have substantial support from businessmen like Dany Khoury again a Lebanese business tycoon who has provided financial support to Hezbollah through his business dealings. Paradoxically, Khoury’s has never directly supported any terrorist activity but has supported the complex financial network like donations sympathizing with its cause, and opening various business ventures for Hezbollah like construction companies’ supermarkets, etc. Hezbollah’s financial network is global with its activities in Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America. This is how the group of individuals join together, to raise money to carry out or influence terrorism globally.
There are many global Cartels like Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion or CJNG are competitors to expand their landscape and control in the markets of the Western Hemisphere and beyond. Both of them are now also working towards Asia. Asia, a new name for expansion for these drug lords. The increase in porous borders, higher profit margins than traditional markets, and the rising opportunity in volume and the efficacy of trade have shifted the cartels to capitalize on this opportunity for crime by moving their products and laundering funds.
Drug Trafficking in Sri Lanka
Reports have shown drugs are smuggled through narcotic control officers of Srilanka, through the Indian Ocean routes. A case of 2020 has proven this, over two dozen narcotic control officers were found smuggling drugs illegally through the water routes in the island nation. The sea route is the safest and most feasible way of trafficking drugs because of the low-security threat. It also becomes important as the majority of the trade in Asia happens through this region. Sri Lanka has become a landmark for the traffickers in the region. Most of the foreign vessels involved in trafficking are suspected Iranian fishing ‘dhows’ (a traditional form of Arabian fishing vessels – mechanized). The UNODC terms the narcotics smuggling route from the Iranian/Pakistani Makran coast to Sri Lanka and beyond (Indonesian archipelago) as the ‘Southern Route’.
According to SLAF Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, the main challenge faced by the SLAF in carrying out maritime air operations for drug interception in the area of responsibility covering the EEZ (which is seven times greater than the land of Sri Lanka/furthest point is 200 nm (nautical miles) from Hambantota Port) and the Sri Lanka Flight Information Region (FIR) (which is 27 times greater than the land of Sri Lanka/furthest point is 815 nm from Mattala Airport) is the vast expanse of Sri Lanka’s maritime domain.
When we think of designing the policy to counter or mitigate this worrisome activity that is leading to a penetrating quantum of violence, corruption, and even global recession, it goes without saying to have a consolidated involvement of multiple stakeholders. Trade builds economies but calls for regulations and maritime law enforcement to counter global trafficking else the sea route will continue to get exploited.
It is reported that in 2004, some 400 tons of cocaine were exported from one Latin American country, with an estimated domestic value of US$ 2 billion. How much of this money is used for perpetrating acts of terrorism? Estimates vary. But even a small percentage would be more than sufficient for some individuals or groups to plan, finance, and carry out terrorist acts. In some cases, drugs have even been the currency used in the commission of terrorist attacks, as was the case in the Madrid bombings.
The global focus is on curbing and eliminating terrorism, we see the evolution of these individuals as associations and solidifying their ideologies by increased financial muscle. Be it the Middle East Latin America or Asia the irregulated money flow and the availability of drugs is a major way to keep their irregular warfare regular. Narco-terrorism is a less spoken and much accessible methodology as it is compromised at many levels. It remains less spoken of due to the difficulty and untimely of int gathering of narco-terrorist networks. Corruption and Infiltration within law enforcement is again one of the major challenges to beat narco-terrorism.
An aggressive policy on border control and supply chain monitoring is to be compelled to disrupt this possible dangerous side of terrorism. Private Sector and the possible collaborations with the supply chain industry with a separate vertical to identify and prevent any suspicious activities to reduce the tensions of global illicit flow of drugs and anti-drugs measures. The War on Terror requires a multi-faceted approach to reach the root cause. The great desideratum of disruption to terrorist financial networks, and dark web that facilitates aid or support directly or indirectly with stronger Law Enforcement Coordination should be an aggressive and parallel process for timely reactions.
REFERENCES –
The Laundromat: Hezbollah’s Money-Laundering and Drug-Trafficking Networks in Latin America
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/introducing-hezbollah-worldwide-map-and-timeline
https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/why-drug-cartels-are-exhttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/9/17/arrests-of-narcotics-police-highlight-sri-lankas-drug-menace
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353210919_Illegal_Drug_and_Human_Trafficking_in_Indian_Ocean_and_Sri_Lanka%27s_Response_in_terms_of_International_Regional_and_Domestic_Law_and_Policyhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/drug-trafficking-and-the-financing-of-terrorism.html
About author – The author is an International Relations Expert and focuses on geopolitics and geoeconomics. As an Editor she keeps narco-terrorism as one of the focal points of her work. Views are authors own . Her Twitter Handle is MajorNDhasmana. She can be reached at www.majornamratadhasmana.in
