Project Titan (DEA)
Project Titan was a joint operation conducted by U.S. and Colombian authorities in 2004, targeting Hezbollah's involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering.{{Cite web |last=Levitt |first=Matthew |date=2022 |title=Episode 6: Operation Cedar Hezbollah Narco-Money Laundering |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/media/5452 |website=The Washington Insitute}}{{Cite web |date=2017 |title="Attacking Hezbollah's Financial Network: Policy Options" |url=https://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA00/20170608/106094/HHRG-115-FA00-Wstate-MaltzD-20170608.pdf |website=house.gov}} The project that was part of the larger Project Cassandra, was initiated by DEA agents in Miami as a large-scale money laundering investigation.{{Cite web |date=2017-12-18 |title=Report: Obama's WH Eased Up on Hezbollah to Appease Iran |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/report-obamas-white-house-went-easy-on-hezbollah-to-appease-iran/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}} The operation successfully infiltrated a significant organized crime group in Medellin, Colombia, known as the Oficina de Envigado. It uncovered Hezbollah's deepening involvement with South American drug cartels, notably the Medellín Cartel, to finance its activities. A key figure identified was Chekri Mahmoud Harb, also known as "Taliban," a Lebanese-Colombian national who coordinated cocaine shipments from Colombia to the Middle East and Europe. Harb's network reportedly paid Hezbollah 12% of its narcotics income.{{Cite web |date=1961-08-25 |title=Chekri Mahmoud Harb |url=https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/Q131682999/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=OpenSanctions.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Watchlist Profile: Chekri Mahmoud Harb {{!}} Global Watchlist |url=https://www.sanctionswatchlist.com/profile/chekri-mahmoud-harb~dc7a7cf73bda8dcf776d92e4629102af |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.sanctionswatchlist.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=IT |first=Lursoft |date=2025-01-22 |title=Chekri Mahmoud HARB |url=https://sanctions.lursoft.lv/person/chekri-mahmoud-harb/ofac-11546 |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.lursoft.lv |language=en}}
Investigation
The investigation revealed that Hezbollah operatives established business relationships with South American drug cartels, facilitating the movement of large quantities of cocaine to European and U.S. markets. The proceeds were laundered through complex schemes, including the Black Market Peso Exchange, and funneled back to Hezbollah to support its operations.{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=DEA And European Authorities Uncover Massive Hizballah Drug And Money Laundering Scheme |url=https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2016/02/01/dea-and-european-authorities-uncover-massive-hizballah-drug-and-money?utm_source=chatgpt.com |website=United States Drug Enforcement Administration}}
Success
The operation resulted in the arrest of more than 130 suspects and the seizure of $23 million. It led to further investigations, including those targeting Ayman Joumaa, a significant figure in Hezbollah's global criminal network.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Press Releases |url=https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=U.S. Department of the Treasury |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Lebanese Drug Lord Charged in US: Links to Zetas and Hezbollah |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/lebanese-drug-lord-charged-in-us-links-to-zetas-and-hezbollah/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=ABC News |language=en}}{{Cite journal |date=March 1982 |title=United States: Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulations Unblocking Czechoslovak Assets |url=https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020782900055236 |journal=International Legal Materials |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=419 |doi=10.1017/s0020782900055236 |issn=0020-7829}}
Impact of Political Considerations on Project Titan's Progress
Despite the operation's initial successes, reports indicate that political considerations related to the Iran nuclear deal led to a slowdown in efforts against Hezbollah's illicit activities during the Obama administration. This decision reportedly hindered the DEA's ability to fully dismantle the network uncovered by Project Titan.{{Cite web |title=The secret backstory of how Obama let Hezbollah off the hook |url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obama-hezbollah-drug-trafficking-investigation/?utm_ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Politico }}