by By Oluchi Omai
On October 16, 2024, the United States announced sanctions against three individuals and four companies for their involvement in a network that generates revenue for Hizballah, a terrorist group based in Lebanon. This network helps fund Hizballah’s operations, including recent rocket attacks on Israel, which are further destabilizing Lebanon and the region.
The U.S. Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller, emphasized that these actions are part of the United States’ ongoing efforts to cut off Hizballah’s access to international financial systems and disrupt its methods of generating revenue. The sanctions also target individuals involved in the illegal production and trafficking of captagon, a dangerous and highly addictive amphetamine. The trade in captagon not only harms communities in the Middle East and beyond but also serves as a significant source of income for the Syrian regime and its allies, including Hizballah.
These actions align with the goals of the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act, a U.S. law aimed at curbing the production and sale of the drug. Captagon trafficking has grown into a billion-dollar illegal business, involving key members of the Syrian regime.
The sanctions were authorized under several U.S. executive orders, including Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which addresses counterterrorism, and E.O.s 13572 and 13582, which block property and prohibit transactions with individuals connected to human rights abuses and the Syrian government. Additionally, the sanctions are supported by the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act of 2019, a law designed to hold the Syrian regime accountable for its violence against civilians.
The U.S. government remains committed to preventing Hizballah from financing its violent activities and will continue to disrupt the captagon trade, which has contributed to instability in the Middle East. These actions demonstrate the United States’ firm stance against terrorism and its support for peace and security in the region.
