The US Justice Department announces the creation of a special task force to investigate what it called “narco-terrorism” by the powerful Lebanese movement Hezbollah, which the US, along with Israel and other countries, has classified as a terror group.
The unit will comprise specialists on money-laundering, drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime, targeting Iran ally Hezbollah’s sprawling network, which reaches across Africa and into Central and South America, the department says.
“The Justice Department will leave no stone unturned in order to eliminate threats to our citizens from terrorist organizations and to stem the tide of the devastating drug crisis,” says Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“The team will initiate prosecutions that will restrict the flow of money to foreign terrorist organizations as well as disrupt violent international drug trafficking operations.”
— AFP
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 11, 2018
