Venezuela-based HezbollahSanctioned by OFAC

This Venezuelan connectionnection to Hezballah is important to Africa, because the travel agency connections may facilitate fund rasing travel in West Africa, among other places. I wonder if FARC-Hezbollah connections occur in Venezuela...

The Followings was Posted on the Office of Foreign Asset Control (US Treasy Department) web site:

June 18, 2008
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Treasury Targets Hizballah in Venezuela

Washington - The U.S. Department of the Treasury today designated two Venezuela-based supporters of Hizballah, Ghazi Nasr al Din and Fawzi Kan'an, along with two travel agencies owned and controlled by Kan'an.

"It is extremely troubling to see the Government of Venezuela employing and providing safe harbor to Hizballah facilitators and fundraisers. We will continue to expose the global nature of Hizballah's terrorist support network, and we call on responsible governments worldwide to disrupt and dismantle this activity," said Adam J. Szubin, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Today's action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists, those owned or controlled by or acting for or on behalf of terrorists, and those providing financial, technological, or material support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. Assets the designees hold under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen and U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions in property or interests in property blocked under the order.

Identifying Information

GHAZI NASR AL DIN

• Ghazi Nasr al Din is a Venezuela-based Hizballah supporter who has utilized his position as a Venezuelan diplomat and the president of a Caracas-based Shi'a Islamic Center to provide financial support to Hizballah.
• Nasr al Din served until recently as Charge d' Affaires at the Venezuelan Embassy in Damascus, Syria, and was subsequently appointed the Director of Political Aspects at the Venezuelan Embassy in Lebanon.
• Nasr al Din has counseled Hizballah donors on fundraising efforts and has provided donors with specific information on bank accounts where the donors' deposits would go directly to Hizballah.
• Ghazi Nasr al Din has met with senior Hizballah officials in Lebanon to discuss operational issues, as well as facilitated the travel of Hizballah members to and from Venezuela.
• In late January 2006, Nasr al Din facilitated the travel of two Hizballah representatives to the Lebanese Parliament to Caracas to solicit donations for Hizballah and to announce the opening of a Hizballah-sponsored community center and office in Venezuela.
• The previous year, Nasr al Din arranged the travel of Hizballah members to attend a training course in Iran.
  
  AKAs: Haj Ghazi Nasseredine
  Ghazi Nassereddine
  Gazi Nasseridine
  Gazi Nasser El-Din
  Ghazil Nasser Al-Din
  Haj Ghazzi Nassereddine
  Ghassan Attef Salame Nasserddine
  Ghassan Nasr El Din Ghassan
  Ghazi Nasserddine
  Ghazi `Atef Nasraldine
  Atef Salameh Nasserdine Ghasan
  Hajj Ghazi `Atif Nasr al-Din
  
• Venezuelan Cedula: 18.190.527
  Venezuelan Passport: B-0472561
  DOB: 13DEC 1962
  POB: Lebanon

FAWZI KAN'AN

• Fawzi Kan'an is a Venezuela-based Hizballah supporter and a significant provider of financial support to Hizballah.
• Kan'an has facilitated travel for Hizballah members and sent money raised in Venezuela to Hizballah officials in Lebanon.
• Kan'an has met with senior Hizballah officials in Lebanon to discuss operational issues, including possible kidnappings and terrorist attacks. Further, Kan'an has also traveled with other Hizballah members to Iran for training.
  
  AKAs:
  Fazi Canaan
  Faouzi Can'an
  Fouzi Kanan
  Fauzi Kanaan
  Fawzi Kan'an
  Fauzi Ganan
  Maustaf Fawzi (Faouzi) Kanaan
  
  DOB1:
  7 June 1943
  DOB 2:
  February 1943
  DOB3:
  l June l943
  POB 1:
  Lebanon
  
  POB 2:
  Baalbeck, Lebanon
  
  POB 3:
  Betechelida, Lebanon
  
  Passport no:
  0877677
  
  Nationality:
  Venezuelan (Naturalized)
  
  Naturalization no.:
  2108, 16 December 1977
  
  Identification no:
  V-6.919.272
  
  Residence 1:
  Calle 2, Residencias Cosmos, Fifth Floor, Apartment 5D,
  La Urbina Caracas, Venezuela
  
  Residence 2:
  Esquina Bucare, Building 703, Second Floor, Apartment 20
  Caracas, Venezuela
  
  BIBLOS TRAVEL AGENCY
  
  Biblos Travel Agency is a Venezuela-based travel agency owned and operated by Fawzi Kan'an, which he has used to courier funds to Lebanon.
  
  AKAs:
  Biblios Travel
  Biblos Travel CA
  Biblos Travel, C.A.
  
  Location:
  Avenida Baralt, Esquina Maderero, Edificio Santa Isabel II,
  PB, Loc. 1 Caracas, Venezuela
  
  HILAL TRAVEL AGENCY
  
  Formed in April 2001, Hilal Travel Agency is a Venezuela-based travel agency owned and operated by Fawzi Kan'an.
  
  AKAs:
  Hilal Travel C.A.
  
  Address:
  Avenida Baralt, Esquina Maderero, Edificio Santa Isabel
  Caracas, Venezuela
  
  Business ID no.:
  80074366