Treasury Targets Hizballah in Venezuela

The following Sanctioning Event occured in June, 2008
of note is the IP address associated with ongoing activity related to these events:

208.195.70.218

-Shimron Issachar


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 20Caracas, 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 CABiblos Travel, C.A.
Location:
Avenida Baralt, Esquina Maderero, Edificio Santa Isabel II, PB, Loc. 1 Caracas, VenezuelaHILAL

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 IsabelCaracas, Venezuela
Business ID no.:
80074366

US Treasuy Department Press Release