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American intelligence officials estimate fortune of Shiite organization's
leader, senior members totals some $2 billion, which are scattered in
hundreds of bank accounts across the world
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is worth some $250 million, a
Kuwaiti newspaper reported recently, quoting American intelligence officials.
According to the report, the fortune of Nasrallah's deputy, Sheikh Naim
Qassem, and other senior organization members amounts to as much as $2
billion.
And Yet...
'Hezbollah in dire financial straits' / Ynet
French daily Le Figaro says Lebanese terror group hit hard by civil uprising
in Syria, sanctions against Iran
Full story
The anonymous intelligence sources believe the funds have been deposited in
hundreds of bank accounts across the world, including in Europe, using
fabricated or fake names.
Two Western sources are quoted as saying that the Hezbollah leaders from
time to time channel millions of dollars from their bank accounts or their
wives' bank accounts to senior members of the Revolutionary Guards in Iran,
who are responsible for transferring money to the Shiite organization from
the office of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to the report, Iranian parliament members are aware of this
corruption, are unhappy with it but are avoiding discussing it.
Straw companies
A British security source who worked at the embassies in Saudi Arabia and
Lebanon in the 1990s is quoted as saying that the West has figured out
Hezbollah's money laundering method.
According to the source, the Shiite organization's common method is setting
up straw companies in Arab or African countries, which sell cars or large
amounts of goods.
The organizations also operate small cells of six to 10 people who
specialize in stealing cellular phones, personal computers or credit cards,
and open fake bank accounts using the victims' details.
According to the report, the Hezbollah members also specialize in stealing
passports, which are used by the organization operatives to travel around
the world for commerce purposes, among others.
By setting up companies, mainly in Eastern European countries and in Soviet
republics in central Asia, Hezbollah provides all the financial needs of the
organization members in Lebanon.
According to a recent report among many on the organization's financial
situation, senior Iranian officials are furious over an internal report
pointing to corruption among Hezbollah's highest ranks.
Another report says the Iranians were "amazed" to learn of the flamboyant
life led by the organization members, mainly during their visits abroad.
Doron Peskin is head of research at Info-Prod Research (Middle East) Ltd. |
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