Overview

Ali Muhammad Kazan is a U.S.-designated Hezbollah operative and fundraiser in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America––the region that straddles the borders of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. He reportedly may have succeeded U.S.-designated Assad Ahmad Barakat as the leader of Hezbollah’s political structure in the TBA, and also reportedly served as a counterintelligence official for the group.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Fundraising Network in the Triple Frontier of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp190.aspx. As of August 2006, Kazan helped to raise more than $500,000 for Hezbollah from Lebanese businessmen in the region.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Fundraising Network in the Triple Frontier of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp190.aspx. In 2006, the Paraguayan periodical ABC Color referred to him as the “political reference” and “visible face of Hezbollah” in the TBA.“Los nueve árabes sospechosos para EUA tienen negocios en C. del Este,” ABC Color (Asución), December 17, 2006, http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/los-nueve-arabes-sospechosos-para-eua-tienen-negocios-en-c-del-este-950958.html.

ABC Color also reported that Kazan served as the administrator of funds for the Society of Islamic Charity of Foz do Iguaçu, a Hezbollah-linked charitable organization. However, the report claimed that Kazan did not enjoy widespread support from Hezbollah sympathizers in the region, and instead had achieved his high-ranking roles in the organization through family connections. The periodical also reported that Kazan hosted and accompanied Hezbollah deputy Ismail Sukkarieh during his visit to Brazil in May of 2006.“Los nueve árabes sospechosos para EUA tienen negocios en C. del Este,” ABC Color (Asución), December 17, 2006, http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/los-nueve-arabes-sospechosos-para-eua-tienen-negocios-en-c-del-este-950958.html. In addition to his duties for Hezbollah, Kazan reportedly worked as the director of the Escola Libanesa Brasileira (Lebanese Brazilian School) in Foz de Iguacú, Brazil, as of 2007.“Siguen acusando a la Tres Fronteras de ser nido de extremistas islámicos,” ABC Color (Asunción), March 12, 2007, http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/interior/siguen-acusando-a-la-tres-fronteras-de-ser-nido-de-extremistas-islamicos-968031.html.

Kazan was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 6, 2006.“Treasury Targets Hizballah Fundraising Network in the Triple Frontier of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/hp190.aspx. According to the designation, he held both Lebanese and Paraguayan citizenship at the time.“Recent OFAC Actions,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20061206.aspx.