Ted Poe: “Hezbollah is not only a terrorist group, it is a criminal organization that funds its terror through drug trafficking…”

“Hezbollah is not only a terrorist group, it is a criminal organization that funds its terror through drug trafficking, arms dealing, and money laundering. Hezbollah is believed to raise $4 billion to $5 billion, annually, through these criminal activities. Tons of Hezbollah cocaine makes its way into the United States every year, but the past administration refused to designate Iran's proxy, Hezbollah, as a criminal organization making it possible to prosecute Hezbollah in the United States. They repeatedly delayed and denied DEA requests to investigate and prosecute Hezbollah drug dealing and arms dealing networks. Why? So Iran would not back out of the nuclear deal. In 2016, the White House even let a Hezbollah arms dealer with connections to Putin go free. That is why Representatives Cook, Ros- Lehtinen, and I sent a letter to the President yesterday urging him to designate Hezbollah as a transnational criminal organization and a kingpin entity. No more backroom deals for Iran. We must change course quickly. Every day more illegal money flows into Hezbollah's coffers. Hezbollah terrorists and criminals ought to be prosecuted. And that is just the way it is. ____________________”