
Terrorist Groups in Paraguay’s Southeast Region
U.S.-sanctioned terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, and Hamas, are believed to recruit, plan attacks, and fundraise in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America, and within Paraguay specifically.
The TBA is considered by law enforcement to be a concentrated area of criminal and terrorist activity. Individuals affiliated with Hezbollah, Hamas, and al-Qaeda, have conducted fundraising activities and plotted attacks from the region, often with the assistance of cartels and organized crime groups. Paraguay’s second largest city, Ciudad del Este, is one of principal centers of illicit activity there. * "The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra," Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf; "Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America," Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf. x
CEP calls on Paraguay to clarify the status of the following individuals affiliated with internationally sanctioned terrorist organizations, and if appropriate, arrest, expel, or otherwise cut off support to them:
Served as a senior Hezbollah official and fundraiser in the TBA.* “Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America,” Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf; “The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf; “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. x He was imprisoned in 2002 on tax evasion charges.* “Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America,” Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf. x The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 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. x He was released from Paraguayan custody in 2009, and has reportedly traveled abroad on a Paraguayan passport as recently as 2017.* “The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf; Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere,” Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf. x
Served as a senior leader and fundraiser for Hezbollah in the TBA, and as the owner and manager of the U.S.-designated Galería Page shopping center (today known as Shopping Uniamérica) in Ciudad del Este as of 2010.* “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; Associated Press, “3 men charged in Miami with financing Hezbollah,” Ynet News, February 19, 2010, https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3851730,00.html.x The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2006. At the time, he held Paraguayan citizenship.* “Recent OFAC Actions,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20061206.aspx. x
Served as a Hezbollah operative and as the administrator of the U.S.-designated Galería Page shopping center (today known as Shopping Uniamérica) in Ciudad del Este.* Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere,” Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf; “Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America,” Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf; “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. x The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2006. At the time, he held Paraguayan citizenship.* “Recent OFAC Actions,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20061206.aspx. x He reportedly continues to reside in Ciudad del Este.* Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere,” Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf. x
Served as a Hezbollah fundraiser in the TBA.* Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere,” Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf.x The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2006. At the time, he held Paraguayan citizenship.* “Recent OFAC Actions,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20061206.aspx. x He reportedly continues to operate a business in the U.S.-designated Shopping Uniamérica shopping center (previously known as Galería Page) in Ciudad del Este.* Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere,” Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf.x
Served as the chief of Hezbollah’s military and fundraising operations in the TBA until he was arrested in 2002.*“The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf; “Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America,” Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf. xThe U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in June 2004.* “Treasury Designates Islamic Extremist, Two Companies Supporting Hizballah in Tri-Border Area,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, June 10, 2004, https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/js1720.aspx. x He was released from Paraguayan custody in 2009.* “The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf.xBrazilian police arrested him in September 2018 near the TBA. He is wanted by Paraguay for identity theft and by Argentina for money laundering in an Argentine casino.*"'Hezbollah treasurer' Barakat arrested in Brazil border city," BBC News, September 22, 2018, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45610738.x Brazilian authorities extradited Barakat to Paraguay in July 2020.*Tereza Fretes Alonso, “Assad Barakat fue ingresado al pais con fuerta custodia politica,” ABC, July 17, 2020, https://www.abc.com.py/este/2020/07/17/assad-barakat-fue-ingresado-al-pais-con-fuerte-custodia-policial/.x
Served as a Hezbollah fundraiser and counterintelligence official in the TBA. Also reportedly may have succeeded Assad Ahmad Barakat as the leader of Hezbollah 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.x The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2006. At the time, he held Paraguayan citizenship.*“Recent OFAC Actions,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20061206.aspx. x
Part of a network of Hezbollah financiers in the TBA until he was convicted and sentenced to six years in Paraguayan prison in June 2006 for document falsification.* “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; “Supuesto extremista manejaba cuenta bancaria en Bahamas,” ABC Color (Asunción), April 22, 2005, http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/supuesto-extremista-manejaba-cuenta-bancaria-en-bahamas-826089.html; “Chapter 2 – Country Reports: Western Hemisphere Overview,” U.S. Department of State, April 30, 2007, https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2006/82735.htm. x The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in December 2006. At the time, he held a Paraguayan passport.* “Recent OFAC Actions,” U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2006, https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20061206.aspx. x Barakat has since been released from Paraguayan custody, and his current whereabouts are uncertain.* Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, “Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere,”” Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf. x
CEP also calls on Paraguay to shut down the following internationally sanctioned terrorist entity:
Paraguayan authorities reportedly deny the continued presence of Hezbollah in the country. * "The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra," Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf; Jay Weaver, "Paraguayan man linked to Hezbollah faces drug charges in Miami," Miami Herald, June 26, 2017, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article158334659.html. x Paraguay needs to acknowledge Hezbollah’s presence and proactively apply its counterterrorism legislation to combat Hezbollah and other internationally sanctioned terrorist groups operating in the TBA.

Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated and Iranian-backed Lebanese terrorist group, has reportedly operated out of the TBA since the mid-1980s, from where it has operated sleeper cells, conducting fundraising activities, and plotted attacks. * “Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America,” Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf; “The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf. x Although Paraguayan authorities reportedly deny that Hezbollah has a presence in the country, several U.S.-designated Hezbollah members have held Paraguayan citizenship and are known to have operated out of Ciudad del Este. * "Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America," Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf; "The many criminal heads of the Golden Hydra," Counter Extremism Project, accessed May 25, 2016, https://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/The%20Many%20Criminal%20Heads%20of%20the%20Golden%20Hydra%20%28May%202018%29.pdf; Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, "Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere," Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf; Jay Weaver, "Paraguayan man linked to Hezbollah faces drug charges in Miami," Miami Herald, June 26, 2017, http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article158334659.html. x The U.S.-designated Shopping Uniamérica shopping center (previously known as Galería Page) in Ciudad del Este reportedly serves as a regional command post for Hezbollah and source of fundraising for the group. * "Terrorist and Organized Crime Groups in the Tri-Border Area (TBA) of South America," Library of Congress, July 2003, 2, 20, https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/TerrOrgCrime_TBA.pdf; Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, "Examining the Effectiveness of the Kingpin Designation Act in the Western Hemisphere," Congressional Testimony: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, November 8, 2017, http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA07/20171108/106606/HHRG-115-FA07-Wstate-OttolenghiE-20171108.pdf. x
Fact Sheet: Paraguay’s Support of Terror Financing
Paraguay and Terrorism in the Tri-Border Area Paraguay continues to allow representatives of Hezbollah and other internationally designated entities freedom of movement in the country.
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