The Venezuela Iran ghost flights refers to the opration of clandestine and irregular flight routes from Venezuela to Iran and back. Some flights would pass throgh Syria and Paraguay. These flights known also as "Aeroterror", were closed to the public and operated by sanctioned airlines such as Conviasa, Emtrasur Cargo, and Mahan Air. Due to their alleged role in facilitating the transport of weapons, gold, sanctioned cargo, and personnel linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, these flights raised international concern.
In the mid-2000s Venezuela under Presidents Hugo Chávez and Iran under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have significantly strengthened the relations. [1] [2] [3] These connections led to the establishment of what became known as "aeroterror", a weekly flight line Caracas–Damascus–Tehran operational between 2007 and 2010. [4] These flights were called "ghost flights", as they lacked standard passenger or cargo manifests and customs documentation. [5] It is reported that these routes were used to support clandestine operations of transferring military technology, narcotics, money, personnel linked to Hezbollah and the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and even radioactive materials. [4] [5] [6]
These ghost flights were mainly operated by Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline sanctioned by the United States for allegedly transporting weapons and military personnel on behalf of the IRGC. [7] Flights from Venezuela belonged to Conviasa and its subsidiary Emtrasur Cargo that bought planes used to be owned to Mahan Air, including a Boeing 747 that later drew international attention and investigations. [8] [9]
In June 2022, authorities in Argentina grounded an Emtrasur Boeing 747 cargo plane at Ezeiza International Airport near Buenos Aires. The aircraft, which had once belonged to Mahan Air, was carrying 19 crew members, including five Iranians—one later identified as a former commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The incident sparked concerns about possible covert activities and triggered a multinational investigation involving Paraguay, Argentina, and the United States. [10] [11]
The Boeing 747 that later landed in Argentina, arrived at Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. A region known for smuggling and illicit trade. It was only later that authorities in Paraguay opened an investigation into the flight and its cargo. Security officials expressed concern about the lack of transparency and irregularities in flight documentation and crew composition. [12]
Investigations indicate that the ghost flights may constitute a component of a broader strategy to circumvent international sanctions. Evidence suggests that gold was transported from Venezuela to Iran in exchange for technical assistance and fuel. Additional reports allege that the aircraft were used to transfer spare parts, surveillance technology, and other goods prohibited under existing sanctions frameworks. [13] [14] [15]
Security analysts and observers have raised concerns that these flights may be used to build and support networks tied to Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Latin America, mainly in the Tripoint (TBA), where Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina meet. [8] [5] An area known for its terrorist financing activities. Iran's use of civilian aircraft for covert purposes is not unprecedented. Organizations like United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) have documented similar activities involving other airlines connected to the Iranian government. [15]
Following the 2022 incident, U.S. authorities launched an investigation into the aircraft and related companies, including Spanish firms accused of illegal leasing. The FBI, Argentine security forces, and INTERPOL worked jointly on the case. [16] [17] Since then, Argentina and other Latin American nations have tightened oversight of foreign cargo flights, particularly those tied to sanctioned entities. [16] [17]
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