“US and European Agencies Collaborate to Counter Hizballah’s Activities in the Western Hemisphere”
Government representatives from North, South, and Central America, along with Israel and Europol, gathered in Europe for a regional meeting on September 12-13. Led by the U.S. Departments of State and Justice, this meeting was part of the Law Enforcement Coordination Group’s (LECG) efforts to combat Hizballah’s destabilizing activities.
Established in 2014, the LECG serves as a global platform for enhancing international cooperation in countering Hizballah’s terrorism and illicit operations.
During the meeting, participants discussed Hizballah’s use of the Western Hemisphere as a crucial logistical and fundraising hub for its global terrorist operations. The LECG also featured case studies highlighting recent terrorist and criminal activities by Hizballah in the region, as well as government actions taken to disrupt these activities. Case studies included topics such as Hizballah’s involvement in cryptocurrency, recruitment tactics, illicit financial schemes, and recent prosecutions of Hizballah members by both the U.S. and international authorities.
Officials from several U.S. agencies, including the Departments of the Treasury and Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, also participated in the meeting. The LECG plans to reconvene in 2024 to continue its collaborative efforts against Hizballah’s activities.