Senate Caucus to Hear Expert Testimony on Hezbollah's Latin American Operations

Washington, D.C. – Marshall S. Billingslea, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute and former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control on October 21, 2025. The hearing, titled "Global Gangsters: Hezbollah’s Latin American Drug Trafficking Operations," will delve into the Lebanese group's illicit financial activities in the region. Billingslea announced his upcoming testimony via social media, stating, "Looking forward to testifying tomorrow alongside some of the foremost experts on Lebanese Hizballah and their operations in Latin America."

The hearing aims to examine how Hezbollah finances its terrorist activities through drug trafficking and money laundering operations across Latin America, and to assess the United States government's response to this evolving threat. This session highlights ongoing concerns within U.S. policy circles regarding the nexus of organized crime and terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.

Billingslea brings extensive experience to the discussion, having previously served as Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control at the U.S. Department of State and as Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. His background includes leading international efforts to counter illicit financial activities and building coalitions against such threats. He also presided over the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering body.

He will be joined by other distinguished experts, including Ambassador Nathan Sales of the Atlantic Council, Dr. Matthew Levitt of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Robert F. Clifford, formerly of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, established in 1985, regularly holds hearings on strengthening U.S. counter-narcotics efforts and addressing related issues like money laundering and organized crime.

The testimony is expected to shed light on the intricate networks Hezbollah utilizes to generate revenue in Latin America, which then supports its global operations. This focus underscores the persistent challenge posed by transnational criminal organizations with ties to state and non-state actors. The insights provided by the expert panel will likely inform future legislative and executive actions aimed at disrupting these illicit financial pipelines.