A report by RAND Corp.

Study: Hizbullah Receives $20 million Annually from Proceeds of Pirated Films

A report by RAND Corp. said Hizbullah receives $ 20 million annually from proceeds of pirated films in the tri-border area of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

According to the report released Tuesday, organized crime is taking on a larger role in film piracy.

The report warned that the terrorist connection could increase in the future.

It said that in the tri-border area, which is an important financing center for Islamic terrorism, channeling $20 million annually to Hizbullah, at least one transfer of $3.5 million was made by known DVD pirate Assad Ahmad Barakat.

Barakat was described as a "specially designated global terrorist" by the U.S. government in 2004.

Beirut, 04 Mar 09, 11:08

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