"double jeopardy in the region - Arab-Islamic nationalism and prostitutionSyrian / Lebanese Arab immigration into the area is more concentrated in 'Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Maicao.' The bordering city with Venezuela - Maicao (Col) market is probably 90% Arab.
Though not all Arabs in south America are "political," and some are not Muslim, yet, the Arab-Islamic Hezbollah growing phenomenon in Latin America -in recent years- certainly sharpened Arab nationalism which is today very militant-Islamic in nature. A 2008 drug probe finds Hezbollah financing link and a 2009 report shows Hezbollah has active cell on Colombia-Venezuela border.
So did Chavez's anti-Americanism, exploiting it, and embedding it into his "anti-Imperialism" sentiments. His pro-Arabism showed such strength that in 2009, a Kuwaiti MP "called to move Arab League to Venezuela." Stating he "has proved that he was more Arab than some Arabs."
His government's Justice Minister Tarek El Aissami, who is of Arab descent expelled Israeli ambassador in 2009. Hugo Chavez had illegally given more than 270 Venezuelan passports to Arab extremists
Last but not least: Hezbollah has been using prostitution (Muta) for recruitment, especially since the "holy" Islamic Hezbollah's Militarization of Sex - Hezbollah's halal hookups
Jack Black and their Johnson is what set them up.