By Kapulett
Based on an original investigation first published in the Dominican newspaper Teleradio América
For decades, the Dominican Republic was perceived as a country largely detached from the geopolitical dynamics of the Middle East. However, a series of events documented in public sources and journalistic reports led researcher Kapulett to suggest that the Caribbean nation may have been the setting for activities indirectly linked to networks associated with Hezbollah. His analysis, based exclusively on verifiable information, does not constitute a legal accusation but rather a review of events that, according to him, warrant scrutiny.
A Speech in Beirut That Raised Questions
At an official event held in Beirut, Lebanese Republic, Dominican President Luis Abinader publicly stated: “The cedar runs through my veins,” referring to Lebanon’s national symbol. The speech was delivered in the presence of then-President Michel Aoun and political leader Gebran Bassil, a prominent figure in the Free Patriotic Movement, a parliamentary ally of Hezbollah within Lebanon’s political system.
The full video of the speech is available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/OwuSoxrQWEc?si=qE1DmeIB1MrzY_Fy
“During his official visit to the Dominican Republic in November 2016, Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil met with Dominican authorities and participated in a luncheon with businessmen of Lebanese origin in Santo Domingo, with the objective of strengthening commercial and diplomatic relations between both countries.”
This information comes from a report published by the newspaper Diario Libre (November 23, 2016), titled:
“Abinader will offer luncheon to Lebanon’s Foreign Minister.”
https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/politica/abinader-ofrecera-almuerzo-a-ministro-de-exteriores-del-libano-EF5564035
On November 6, 2020, the United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned former Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil under the Global Magnitsky Act, accusing him of participating in acts of corruption and of strengthening a political system that benefits Hezbollah’s allies within the Lebanese government.
After being sanctioned by the United States in 2020, Bassil stated that the measure was “unjust and politicized,” claiming that U.S. officials had previously asked him to sever his relationship with Hezbollah. According to Bassil, when he refused to comply with that request, Washington proceeded to impose sanctions against him.
For Kapulett, the presence of figures linked to Hezbollah’s allied political bloc turned this episode into a starting point for examining possible historical or indirect connections between the Dominican Republic and actors from the Middle East. The researcher emphasizes that his interpretation is analytical and does not imply any legal accusation.
The Mohamed Atta Case and the Dominican Visa
Another element incorporated into Kapulett’s research comes from a report published by Listín Diario (September 14, 2018), titled:
“Puerto Plata Was a Meeting Point for 9/11 Terrorists.”
https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2018/09/14/533114/puerto-plata-fue-un-punto-de-reunion-de-terroristas-del-9-11.html
In that article, former Dominican consul in Hamburg, Angelita Peña, stated that the CIA contacted her after the September 11, 2001 attacks due to a Dominican visa allegedly linked to Mohamed Atta. According to the testimony published, Atta had reportedly traveled to Puerto Plata three weeks before the attacks.
Peña stated:
“We received notification that the lead terrorist of the group, Mohamed Atta, had obtained a Dominican visa to enter the country.”
Of the 19 hijackers who carried out the attacks, one was of Lebanese nationality.
Ziad Jarrah was the leader of the group and the hijacker-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.
The CIA determined that several of the airline tickets used by the terrorists to travel to the Dominican Republic had been sent from the country.
Although the report does not establish judicial conclusions, Kapulett considers it a historically relevant indication within his line of analysis.
The Lebanese Presence and the Case of Iskandar Safa
The Franco-Lebanese businessman Iskandar Safa appears in multiple journalistic investigations documenting his international activities and his personal connections to the Dominican Republic.
Panama Papers – Univision
https://www.univision.com/noticias/papeles-de-panama/al-empresario-iskandar-safa-lo-asesoraron-para-camuflar-su-identidad-y-comprar-el-yate-mas-costoso
The report states that Safa was advised in 2009 to acquire a yacht through an offshore company. It also mentions that European media outlets linked him to negotiations between France and Hezbollah to secure the release of hostages, although the related judicial proceedings were closed due to lack of evidence.
The judicial file itself concluded:
“These accusations were never substantiated […] and no evidence supports the existence of a ransom paid by the French state.”
Safa was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing and recovered his bail with interest.
The report also documents that Safa owns a residence in the Dominican Republic and that his Dominican wife was appointed ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
Acento – March 22, 2019
https://acento.com.do/amp/actualidad/iskandar-safa-influyente-rd-esposo-una-embajadora-dominicana-perseguido-ee-uu-8663489.html
Acento describes visits by Dominican politicians to Safa’s residence in the eastern part of the country. The outlet emphasizes that these are social and personal relationships, not criminal accusations.
Military Research on Extremist Networks in the Caribbean
The analysis “The Nexus of Extremism and Trafficking” (JSOU, 2013), authored by Brigadier General (Ret.) Russell D. Howard and Colleen Traughber, examined cases where extremist organizations intersect with criminal activities.
The report mentions a 2009 case in Curaçao, where 17 individuals were arrested in connection with a drug trafficking network allegedly linked financially to Hezbollah. Part of the profits was reportedly laundered through assets acquired in Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic.
The document clarifies that there was no definitive confirmation of Hezbollah’s direct participation and that the allegations remained within the investigative domain.
Source:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-D-PURL-gpo81104/pdf/GOVPUB-D-PURL-gpo81104.pdf
The Tanker
Boceánica
and U.S. Sanctions
A report by El Testigo documented that the tanker Boceánica, sanctioned by the United States for alleged links to financing schemes associated with Hezbollah, departed from Azua, Dominican Republic, bound for Venezuela between 2024 and 2025.
Report:
https://eltestigo.com/tanquero-vinculado-a-hezbollah-sancionado-por-ee-uu-arriba-a-venezuela-tras-zarpar-desde-rd
https://x.com/eltestigo_do/status/1985789962889912486
The U.S. Treasury Department confirms the vessel’s designation under OFAC sanctions:
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0322
The information describes maritime movements and official sanctions without attributing wrongdoing to Dominican actors.
Terrorism Experts Point to the Caribbean as an Area of Interest
Spanish Colonel Vicente Reig Basset, a terrorism analyst, states that the Caribbean has been used as a corridor for illicit activities where criminal networks and Hezbollah sympathizers have occasionally intersected operationally.
The Dominican Republic itself has been mentioned in security reports as a location where sympathizers or logistical support cells linked to Hezbollah have established contacts with local criminal networks.
Source:
https://delta13news.com/hezbollah-y-hamas-en-america-redes-financiacion-y-estrategias-ocultas-en-el-continente/
Venezuelan Connections and Transit Through the Dominican Republic
Journalistic investigations have documented links between financial networks of the Venezuelan regime and structures associated with Iran and Hezbollah. In that context, businessman Alex Saab has been identified by the United States as a financial operator for Nicolás Maduro.
A report by Diario Libre details that the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft used by Maduro remained in the Dominican Republic for months before being confiscated by U.S. authorities. The aircraft had been used in a prisoner exchange that included Saab.
Source:
https://www.diariolibre.com/usa/actualidad/2024/09/02/ruta-del-avion-de-maduro-desde-su-compra-ilegal-hasta-llegada-a-rd/2837391
Conclusion: A Pattern of Signals
Kapulett’s research does not claim that the Dominican Republic is an operational hub for Hezbollah. Instead, his argument is that:
There are documented events, supported by verifiable sources, that show indirect interactions between the country and actors linked to the Middle East within complex geopolitical contexts.
None of the facts cited constitutes, on its own, judicial proof of terrorist activity on Dominican territory. However, the combination of elements — visits, personal relationships, the transit of sanctioned vessels, military reports, and diplomatic testimonies — forms a scenario that, according to Kapulett, deserves further investigative attention.
