(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Matthew Levitt - In the past, al Qaeda raised as much as 35 percent of its operating funds from the drug trade. Hizballah benefits from the drug business in Lebanon, using the Beqa'a Valley's poppy crop not only for funds, but also to buy support from Israeli Arabs ready to carry out terrorist operations. U.S. officials believe "a substantial portion" of the millions of dollars raised by Middle Eastern terrorist groups comes from the $20 million to $30 million annually brought in by illicit scams in America.
2003-01-21 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive