Triple Frontier - Terrorist Activities

Terrorist Activities

The United States Government cited "clear examples" of Islamic groups in the tri-border region that "finance terrorist activities". Groups like Egypt's al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda are believed to draw some of their funding from activities in the Triple Frontier.

The particular geography of the border region, rampant political corruption and weak judicial system makes it very difficult to monitor organized crime and the illicit activities connected with it. Furthermore, The Paraguayan side of the triple frontier is a desirable haven for terrorist operations since it has no anti-terrorism laws. Thus, financially contributing to terrorist organizations is not punishable by law and terrorist groups operate freely in the region. According to U.S. officials and law enforcement familiar with the region, "Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia have been fostering a well-financed force of Islamist radicals in the region"

A counter-terrorism expert with the Pentagon’s National Security Study Group described the Tri-border as "the most important base for Hezbollah outside Lebanon itself, home to a community of dangerous fanatics that send their money to financially support Hezbollah.” Out of the 25,000 Lebanese Arabs who live in the region, not all of them support terrorism, but many openly acknowledge they send money to Hezbollah and that Shiite mosques have “an obligation to finance it.”

U.S. officials are particularly concerned, since Hezbollah is blamed for the 1983 United States Embassy bombing and the U.S. Marine's 1983 Beirut barracks bombing in Lebanon. In addition, Hezbollah are known for kidnappings, torture, and murder of Americans

The Paraguayan authorities say they have evidence that money is being sent to organizations with terrorist connections because of the amount of money leaving Paraguay for the Middle East, said Carlos Altemburger, Chief of the Department for the Prevention and Investigation of Terrorism in Paraguay. In response to the situation, Paraguay approved the entry of 400 US soldiers "for joint military exercises, such as programs on fighting urban terrorists, public security and humanitarian assistance," according to the Washington Post. However, in October 2006 Paraguay decided not to renew a defense-cooperation agreement.

In 2005, the governments of the three nations stated they would set up a joint intelligence center in Foz do Iguaçú specifically to monitor the situation.