WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) delivered the following opening remarks during the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control hearing he chaired entitled, “Global Gangsters: Hezbollah’s Latin American Drug Trafficking Operations.” Excerpts are below, and video can be found here.

“The Foreign Terrorist Organization known as Hezbollah has posed a significant threat to U.S. national security and to our ally, Israel, since it emerged from the violence of the Lebanese Civil War of the early 1980s.”

“Hezbollah forms part of Iran’s network of proxies across the Middle East, along with other terrorist organizations like the Houthis and Hamas.”

“Hezbollah’s threat to the United States and Israel is not geographically confined to the Middle East.”

“Its activities in Latin America are chiefly focused on raising funds for its terrorist operations in the Middle East and elsewhere.”

“Hezbollah’s illicit activities in the Tri-Border region have included oil smuggling, money laundering, black market money exchange, counterfeiting, and illegal weapons procurement.”

“While Hezbollah has been a significant terrorist threat to the United States, they have faced significant setbacks in the past year.”

“In 2024, Israel eliminated much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership. Hezbollah lost an important ally following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria in December of 2024, and most importantly, Israel’s success in the Twelve-Day War with Iran.”

“President Trump’s brave decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites in Operation Midnight Hammer could dry up a key source of funding for Hezbollah.”

“Hezbollah may be motivated to look elsewhere for funds to carry out its terrorist attacks.”

“In this critical time, Hezbollah may seek to further expand its Latin America drug trafficking and money laundering networks, and that’s why we are holding this hearing today.”

“Today’s hearing will help us to evaluate the current threat posed by Hezbollah to our south, to review the measures the U.S. government has taken to counter that threat over the last ten years, and to consider how best to respond to the new environment.”