Buenos Aires, Argentina - The United States and the Government of Argentina convened a workshop on countering Hizballah’s terrorist and illicit activities in the Western Hemisphere on June 11-12 in Buenos Aires. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and financial practitioners attended from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru, as did representatives from Ameripol. The workshop was held in advance of the upcoming Western Hemisphere Ministerial that the Government of Argentina will host July 19 in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Hizballah attack on the Mutual Israelite Association of Argentina (known by its Spanish acronym AMIA) community center in Buenos Aires.

The workshop focused on Hizballah’s modus operandi globally and its terrorist and criminal infrastructure and activities in the Americas. Participants discussed various techniques to constrain and counter the group’s illicit activities, including the financial and law enforcement tools available to identify, investigate, and prosecute Hizballah’s global support and facilitation networks. Participants also discussed Hizballah attempts to continue and expand fundraising in the Western Hemisphere, especially in light of the current financial pressure on Hizballah.

Officials from the U.S. Departments of State, Justice, and the Treasury, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Counterterrorism Center, and Drug Enforcement Administration also participated in the meeting.