Today, in a report by Iran Wire news site, we are getting concrete information on just how far the drug network of Hezbollah is entrenched in Latin America, and now on the US border.

Adalberto Fructuoso Comparán Rodríguez was the mayor of the Mexican city of Aguililla, in Michoacán, from 2008 to 2011. In April this year, he was arrested and extradited to the United States a few weeks later, accused of heading up a drug cartel dedicated to trafficking methamphetamine in conjunction with members of Hezbollah.

"Narco-terrorism" is the broad term for drug trafficking activity that generates economic funds for - or otherwise benefits - terrorist organisations like Hezbollah. It mainly refers to the illegal cocaine trade. The Tri-Border area between Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil is one of the hottest spots in the world for narco-terrorism, but the same outfits are also deepening their ties with Mexico.

The fact that a Mexican ex-mayor is now wanted in connection with narco-terrorism for Hezbollah, rightly or not, is an indication of just how pervasive the group’s influence has become in Mexico. Comparán Rodríguez, nicknamed “El Fruto”, was specifically accused of leading a group called the Unidos Cartel, which smuggled methamphetamine across the border from Mexico to the United States. The authorities also arrested his 31-year-old son, Adalberto Fructuoso Comparán Bedolla, who is accused of being the organization’s second-in-command.

According to a statement issued by the US government, in January 2021, "El Fruto" held a meeting in Cali, Colombia with a person identified only as a "money launderer" for Hezbollah. Alfonso Rustrian, a now-detained drug lord, also participated in the meeting. According to the US authorities both drug leaders confirmed to the Hezbollah member that they could supply hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine if required.