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US Eyes Alleged Venezuela-Based Hezbollah Helpers
US
imposes financial clamps on alleged Venezuela-based Hezbollah supporters
By Jeannine Aversa
The Bush administration took action Wednesday against a Venezuelan official and others accused of providing financial support to the Hezbollah terror group.
The Treasury
Department's action covers Ghazi Nasr al Din, whom the United States identified as a Venezuelan diplomat. The order also targets Fawzi Kan'an and two Venezuelan-based travel agencies _ Biblos and Hilal _ that he allegedly owns
or controls.
Kan'an denied the Treasury Department's accusations. "That's pure lies," he told The Associated Press. "What do I have to do with Hezbollah? I don't know the group, don't know anyone."
Any financial assets found in the United States belonging to those designated Wednesday must be frozen. Americans are forbidden from doing business with them.
"It is extremely troubling to see the government of
Venezuela employing and providing safe harbor to Hezbollah facilitators and fundraisers," said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The U.S. government alleges that Nasr al Din used
his position as a diplomat and president of a Caracas-based Shi' a Islamic Center to give financial assistance to Hezbollah. There were conflicting reports from the United States and Venezuela over whether he was stationed in
Lebanon or Syria.
Nasr al Din is suspected of counseling Hezbollah donors on fundraising efforts and providing donors with specific bank account information where "donors deposits would go directly to
Hezbollah," the department said. He also allegedly arranged the travel of Hezbollah members to Iran.
The department described Kan'an as a "significant provider" of financial support to Hezbollah. He also
has traveled with other Hezbollah members to Iran, the department said. The government also alleged that he used his Biblos travel agency to "courier funds" to Lebanon.
Kan'an was reached by phone at a number
listed for his travel agency Biblos. He said he closed Biblos a year ago and was in the process of closing Hilal, adding that "I don't work anymore."
Asked if he knows of any accounts that have been frozen,
Kan'an said, "I have accounts and they aren't frozen." He said he does have accounts in the United States.
In a separate action, Treasury moved to block the assets of alleged leaders of al-Qaida linked
terrorist group Islamic Jihad Union, described by the U.S. as having a goal of overthrowing the Uzbekistan government. The two alleged leaders named are: Najmiddin Kamolitdinovich Jalolov and Suhayl Fatilloevich Buranov.
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