DEA and Multi-National Police Operations Highlight Narcotics, Terrorism and Role of the Balkans
DEA and Multi-National Police Operations Highlight Narcotics, Terrorism and Role of the Balkans

Summary/Abstract: A two-year DEA undercover operation, which played out in exotic international locales in cooperation with police forces of several states, demonstrates that the Balkans is still perceived as a safe haven for ‘business’ and logistical activities by major international terrorism and organized crime entities. The operation, part of which came to light when arrests were made in July of 2011, resulted in November with Romania’s extradition to the US of two foreign nationals reportedly seeking to use drug money to fund weaponry for Hizbollah. In December 2011, further charges were laid against three financial institutions allegedly linked with money laundering for Hizballah, which has come under increased scrutiny as tensions with Iran continue to increase. The intriguing details have been revealed in press releases from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. These documents affirm the complexity of today’s global terrorism-organized crime nexus and also, though details are not given, raise some interesting questions regarding operational activities and what can be understood from them. On November 17, Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the Romanian government’s extraditions of Siavosh Hehareh, from Iran, and a Turk, Cetin Aksu. The press release detailing the charges stated that the two had been “conspiring to provide narcotics and, in the case of Aksu, material support to Hizballah through an individual whom they believed to be an associate of Hizballah, but who was in fact, a United States Drug Enforcement Administration (‘DEA’) confidential source.” It is not clear whether the latter was an actual undercover operative or a low-level terrorist financier who had possibly struck a plea bargain to cooperate. It was also not made clear whether the accused persons were representing a larger group.

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