Project Cassandra
Project Cassandra is an effort led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to undercut Hezbollah funding from illicit drug sources.[1] Launched in 2008, the project was said to be investigating the terrorist organization's funding.[2] According to the DEA, Hezbollah has become increasingly involved with drug trafficking and organized crime as a method of funding its activities.[3][4][5] The investigation was tracking how large sums of money were being laundered from the Americas, through Africa, and to Lebanon into Hezbollah's coffers.[6]
Josh Meyer's investigative report, published by Politico in December 2017, described how, during the Obama administration, concerns regarding the Iran nuclear deal allegedly took precedence over the DEA project.[2] This is said to have caused Project Cassandra to be halted, as it was approaching the upper echelons of Hezbollah's conspiracy, in order to seal a nuclear deal with Iran, even though Hezbollah was still funneling cocaine into America.[7] Former Obama officials criticized the Politico report as based on biased sources and conjecture.[8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Report: Obama's White House Went Easy on Hezbollah to Appease Iran". The Daily Beast. 18 December 2017.
- ^ a b Josh Meyer. "The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook". politico.com.
- ^ Ottolenghi, Emanuele (26 November 2017). "Hezbollah drug trafficking should spur Trump to appoint DEA head". thehill.com.
- ^ "DEA targets Hezbollah's cash flow link to cartels". cbsnews.com.
- ^ "DEA And European Authorities Uncover Massive Hizballah Drug And Money Laundering Scheme". dea.gov.
- ^ "Attacking Hezbollah's Financial Network: Policy Options" JUNE 8, 2017 STATEMENT OF DEREK S. MALTZ INTRODUCTION
- ^ "Hezbollah Smuggled Tons of Cocaine into the U.S. During Obama Administration, Report Reveals". newsweek.com.
- ^ Wemple, Erik (21 December 2017). "Former Obama officials criticize Politico story alleging weakness against Hezbollah". washingtonpost.com.
