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'Hezbollah treasurer' Barakat arrested in Brazil border city 'Hezbollah treasurer' Barakat arrested in Brazil border city
(about 5 hours later)
Police in Brazil have arrested a man accused by the United States of being one of the main financial operators of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah.Police in Brazil have arrested a man accused by the United States of being one of the main financial operators of the Lebanese militant group, Hezbollah.
Assad Ahmad Barakat was detained near the border with Paraguay and Argentina.Assad Ahmad Barakat was detained near the border with Paraguay and Argentina.
He is wanted for identity theft in Paraguay, where he previously served six years in prison tax evasion. He is wanted for identity theft in Paraguay, where he previously served six years in prison for tax evasion.
The police in Argentina have accused Barakat of laundering $10m (£7.6m) on behalf of Hezbollah at a casino in the Iguazu Falls area.The police in Argentina have accused Barakat of laundering $10m (£7.6m) on behalf of Hezbollah at a casino in the Iguazu Falls area.
Barakat, a Lebanese national, was detained in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu.Barakat, a Lebanese national, was detained in the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu.
'Global terrorist''Global terrorist'
The US has long expressed concern about Islamist activities among the sizeable Arab community in region, known as the Triple Frontier. The US has long expressed concern about Islamist activities among the sizeable Arab community in the region, known as the Triple Frontier.
The area attracts tourists from all over the world, who travel to see the waterfalls and the luxuriant tropical forest.The area attracts tourists from all over the world, who travel to see the waterfalls and the luxuriant tropical forest.
But the area also has a reputation as a centre for large-scale smuggling and drug trafficking. But it also has a reputation as a centre for large-scale smuggling and drug-trafficking.
In 2006, the US Treasury Department described Barakat as a "global terrorist" and included his name on a list of people in the Triple Frontier area who helped finance Hezbollah.In 2006, the US Treasury Department described Barakat as a "global terrorist" and included his name on a list of people in the Triple Frontier area who helped finance Hezbollah.
He was one of nine people and two companies who had his assets frozen. He was one of nine people and two companies who had their assets frozen.
"Assad Ahmad Barakat's network in the Tri-Border Area is a major financial artery to Hezbollah in Lebanon," said Adam Szubin, who was then director of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control."Assad Ahmad Barakat's network in the Tri-Border Area is a major financial artery to Hezbollah in Lebanon," said Adam Szubin, who was then director of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Brazilian Federal Police said in a statement that he had continued to operate in Argentina, Brazil and Chile after his release from prison in Paraguay in 2008.Brazilian Federal Police said in a statement that he had continued to operate in Argentina, Brazil and Chile after his release from prison in Paraguay in 2008.
It is not clear whether he is going to extradited to Paraguay or will face charges in Brazil. It is not clear whether he is going to be extradited to Paraguay or will face charges in Brazil.