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[Fall 2014]
The Evolving Dynamics of Terrorism: The Terrorist-Criminal Nexus of Hezbollah and The Los Zetas Drug Cartel
Daniel Valencia
INSS 5390
Capstone

Research Question: Has Hezbollah infiltrated the United States of America through an alliance with the Los Zetas cartel?
Introduction

“Transnational crime will be a defining issue of the 21st century for policymakers—as defining as the Cold War was for the 20th century and colonialism was for the 19th. Terrorists and transnational crime groups will proliferate because these crime groups are major beneficiaries of globalization. They take advantage of increased travel, trade, rapid money movements, telecommunications and computer links, and are well positioned for growth” - Louise I. Shelley (Hesterman, 2013, p.7)

Transnational criminal organizations and terrorist groups operate differently. Their goals are different and their methodologies contrast greatly. However, both entities are dangerous and highly volatile actors in the realm of global trade and global security. Terrorism remains the number one threat the world faces. Transnational criminal organizations or (TCOs) remain a emerging threat but not quite at the scale of certain terrorist groups. The evolving infrastructures of many countries have allowed these types of groups to engage in new opportunities and seek
new sponsors and business affiliates.
Alliances and partnerships have existed between gangs and TCOs for quite some time now. Terrorist groups as well engage in partnerships to help benefit their cause if need be. Terrorist groups have been seeking partnerships not just with other terrorist groups and actors,
now they have affiliated themselves with TCOs across the globe. This poses new risks for global security in many different domains such as: Economic, Military, International and Diplomatic domains. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, TCOs have spread internationally at an exponentially alarming rate. These groups are engaged in the illicit trafficking of weapons, drugs and humans, as well as money laundering and exerting political influence over politicians who are susceptible to corruption.
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