Hizbullah on Thursday strongly denied involvement in the drug trafficking and money laundering cell arrested by Colombian authorities. Hizbullah's international relations official Nawaf Moussawi blamed the charge on "programmed Zionist efforts to distort the image of Hizbullah as a resistance movement and a political party."
Colombian authorities said they have arrested a drug trafficking and money-laundering ring. According to them, the international operation netted three men on suspicion of sending money to Hizbullah.
At least 100 suspects were arrested in Colombia and overseas on drug trafficking charges and money laundering for Colombia's Norte del Valle cartel and outlawed paramilitaries, in a network that stretched from South America to Asia, said a statement by the attorney's general office. "The criminal organization used routes through Venezuela, Panama, Guatemala, the Middle East and Europe, bringing in cash from the sale of these substances," it said.
The alleged Hizbullah suspects were identified as Shukry Mahmoud Harb, Ali Mohammed Abdul Rahim and Zakaria Hussein Harb. The statement said the suspects used front companies to send drug cash overseas.
