Overview
Fadi Hassan Nabha is a former Hezbollah member who was arrested in Brazil on drug-related charges on July 29, 2016. Though Nabha was not arrested on terrorism-related charges, his arrest was reportedly part of a crackdown on Brazilian suspects with links to terrorism in anticipation of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.“Brazil Nabs Former Hezbollah Member Wanted for Drug Trafficking,” Reuters, July 29, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-security-idUSKCN1091V5.
Nabha had been on the Interpol wanted list for drug trafficking since 2013. Upon his July 2016 arrest in the Sao Paulo suburb of Caieiras, Nabha told Brazilian police that he had served in Hezbollah’s Special Forces unit for two years, where he had acquired weapons and explosives training.“Brazil Nabs Former Hezbollah Member Wanted for Drug Trafficking,” Reuters, July 29, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-security-idUSKCN1091V5.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Hezbollah
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Militia, political party, social-service provider, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Iranian-sponsored, Islamist, jihadist, Khomeinist, Shiite
- Position(s):
- Former special services member with training in weapons and explosives
Hezbollah is an Iranian-sponsored, internationally sanctioned terrorist group with an anti-Israel and anti-U.S. agenda. Hezbollah is primarily based in Lebanon, but has carried out terrorist and criminal operations around the world.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On April 3, 2017, the day Vladimir Putin was due to visit the city, a suicide bombing was carried out in the St. Petersburg metro, killing 15 people and injuring 64. An al-Qaeda affiliate, Imam Shamil Battalion, claimed responsibility.