Zeldin, Budd Introduce Legislation to Designate Hezbollah as Transnational Criminal Organization Funded by Drug Trafficking & Money Laundering

February 28, 2018 Press Release

WASHINGTON - Representatives Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) and Ted Budd (R, NC-13) introduced the Hezbollah Kingpin Designation Act (H.R. 5035), which designates Hezbollah as a Transnational Criminal Organization based on its international drug trafficking and global money laundering, which allows the U.S. Treasury Department to more aggressively target Hezbollah's finances.  

In December, a POLITICO investigation revealed Hezbollah's robust narcotics operation as detailed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Project Cassandra, which, since 2008, has been investigating Hezbollah's funding.

"On the international stage, this legislation finally calls Hezbollah for what it is - a transnational criminal organization, one that for decades has funded their radical terrorist group by profiteering on money laundering, drug trafficking and other nefarious activities," said Congressman Zeldin. "This legislation that I have introduced with Congressman Ted Budd puts Hezbollah and all those who do business with them on notice. The United States will no longer stand idly by as Hezbollah pumps drugs onto our streets. We will root out Hezbollah's complicit accomplices and topple their financial support network around the world."

"Hezbollah is a known supplier of cocaine into the United States. While they claim to be a morally upright political organization in their home country, the reality is they are nothing more than drug smugglers and transnational criminals," said Congressman Budd. "The Budd-Zeldin legislation takes important steps to acknowledge Hezbollah for what they really are-- a terrorist organization. I urge the president to use our bill as a tool to crack down on Hezbollah's illicit drug trade."