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♪ ♪
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(rapid gunfire)
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MARIANA: In the fall of 2017,
a group of American soldiers
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came under attack
by Islamic militants.
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(rapid gunfire)
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The footage from
their body cameras tells
the story of the ambush.
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They scramble for cover
from a barrage of bullets
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but are quickly overwhelmed.
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(yelling)
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Then, as they
attempt a desperate retreat,
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the attackers close in.
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The news of their deaths
was met with shock back home.
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Not just for how
they died, but where,
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in the West African
country of Niger.
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REPORTER (over TV):
Questions have swirled since
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the October 4th raid that left
four American soldiers dead.
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LINDSEY (over TV): I didn't kno
there was 1,000 troops in Niger
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REPORTER 3 (over TV): The
real question, of course,
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what they were doing
there in the first place?
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MARIANA: The ambush brought
to light a harsh reality,
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that the U.S. is spending
billions of dollars in Africa
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and around the
globe to fight a new
generation of terrorist groups.
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(explosion)
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(rapid gunfire)
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(speaking in native language).
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MARIANA: 20 years
into the War on Terror,
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I want to know how
these groups are thriving.
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And how black market oil may
be fueling an even larger and
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more complex web of extremism.
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Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait.
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(speaking in native language).
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MARIANA: What's happening?
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(static whirring)
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Josh, come back!
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(speaking in native language)
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MARIANA: I'm in Maiduguri,
a city in Northern Nigeria.
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It's a place that has
seen horrific violence and
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where Major General Musa
now leads the fight against
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a group called Boko Haram.
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MARIANA: Boko Haram
is one of the largest
militant groups in Africa.
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They came to the
world's attention in 2014,
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after abducting more
than 200 schoolgirls.
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ALL: Bring back our girls.
Bring back our girls.
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MARIANA: The group's aim,
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to enforce a strict,
fundamentalist interpretation
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of Islamic Law.
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Nigeria has been dealing with
attacks from Boko Haram for more
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than a decade,
35,000 people have died and
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millions have been displaced.
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MARIANA: Recently,
factions of Boko Haram has
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pledged allegiance
to ISIS and have grown
in power and influence,
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while waging a
guerrilla war across Africa.
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In 2020, the
United States contributed
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close to $600 million in weapons
and other military services to
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help Nigeria fight back.
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♪ ♪
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MARIANA: They're checking all
the cars and trucks that are
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coming in and they just
stopped this car on the side.
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They're just searching
this car and everyone in it.
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Checkpoints like this
one are often targeted by
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suicide bombers and IEDs,
improvised explosive devices.
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(speaking in native language).
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MARIANA: So, apart
from explosive devices...
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MAN: Yeah.
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MARIANA: What else
are you guys looking for
in terms of being smuggled?
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MARIANA: Food,
weapons, and fuel,
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the staples of any group at war.
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(singing in native language)
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MARIANA: To understand where
and how Boko Haram is getting
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their hands on the goods they
need to run their operations,
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the military agrees
to take me to a location
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where I might find answers.
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(speaking in native language)
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MARIANA: These are all
people who have surrendered?
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MAN: Yeah, these are them.
MARIANA: Surrendered fighters?
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Wow.
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That is an
enormous amount of people.
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This compound, on the
outskirts of the city,
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holds around 2,000
former Boko Haram fighters
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and their families.
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They're being held
here for de-radicalization.
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A few of them have agreed
to talk to me in private.
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So my name is Mariana.
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Thank you for being here.
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How long were
you with Boko Haram?
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MODU: 12 years.
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MARIANA: 12 years.
MODU: Mm-hmm.
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MARIANA: When did you surrender?
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How long ago?
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AMIR: Three months.
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MARIANA: So you
were with Boko Haram
until three months ago?
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AMIR: Of course.
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MARIANA: Mm-hmm.
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I'm told these
men were in charge of
recruitment, bomb-making,
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and seeking
supplies for Boko Haram.
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Why did you join Boko Haram?
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MARIANA: Why did you leave?
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MARIANA: What is
the goal of Boko Haram?
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MARIANA: To expand.
And is it expansion
just here in Nigeria?
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MARIANA: They want to go global.
MODU: Globalization.
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MARIANA: With ISIS?
MODU: ISIS. Yes.
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MARIANA: Do you
think Boko Haram
poses a threat to America?
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MARIANA: Boko was
specifically looking for
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American targets
that they could attack?
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ALL: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
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MARIANA: It's shocking to hear
first-hand how this group was
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planning to kill Americans.
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But the question remains, how
does a terrorist organization in
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such a remote corner of Africa
get what it needs to operate?
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Do you know how
Boko Haram gets, uh,
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certain supplies that
are important for them?
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MARIANA: How important
is fuel for Boko Haram?
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MARIANA: So petrol
is the most important?
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ZUBAIRA: Most important.
MODU: Yes.
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MARIANA: Without petrol,
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would Boko Haram be
able to exist, survive?
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MARIANA: They
wouldn't be able to do work.
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MARIANA: It's not something
I've ever thought much about,
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the logistics of terror.
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But in order to evade capture,
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Boko Haram is operating
from obscure locations,
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far from gas stations.
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That means if they want the
ability to move fast and strike
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whenever and wherever they want,
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their fleet of
vehicles needs fuel.
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Nigeria is one of the largest
producers of oil in the world,
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exporting petroleum products to
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the United States,
Europe, and Asia.
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There are nearly
5,000 oil wells in the country,
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and most of them have been
drilled in the oil-rich south.
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The fuel, do you
know if it's coming from
the south of the country?
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MARIANA: From, so,
from the Niger Delta?
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MALLAM: Mm-hmm.
MARIANA: Port Harcourt area?
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MALLAM: Mm-hmm.
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MARIANA: The Niger Delta, off
the southern coast of Nigeria,
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accounts for nearly 90% of
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the country's petroleum exports.
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Even though the region
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is hundreds of miles away.
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It seems plausible that
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it's Boko Haram's source and
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the lifeblood of
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their ongoing operations.
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(squawking)
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So we've been told that before
we're able to film any oil in
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this region, we actually
have to ask permission from
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the man in charge.
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(singing in native language).
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(singing in native language).
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MARIANA: He will be
showing up at any moment.
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Oh, I think he's
coming out, guys.
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(speaking in native language).
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MARIANA: Thank you,
Royal Highness.
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It's not every day you
get to stand before a King.
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The opulence, the formality.
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The reverence from
the members of his court.
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It's all there.
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I see you have many phones.
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(laughs)
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Um, thank you so much for having
us in your beautiful palace.
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We're here to ask
for your permission
to film in your lands.
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He's not your everyday King.
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This is Ateke Tom,
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a former militant
and gang leader,
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responsible for
years of deadly attacks in
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Nigeria's oil-producing region.
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But in 2009, as part of
a peace deal, Ateke Tom,
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along with other
former gang leaders,
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accepted amnesty
from the government.
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Local media from
Channels Television and
TV360 Nigeria were on hand
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to capture the dramatic moment
when he surrendered his weapons
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and was later appointed
to this ceremonial post.
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And now, nothing happens
here without his permission.
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(speaking in native language).
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MARIANA: Thank you,
Royal Highness.
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I was told there's one
thing I should not ask about.
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A very touchy subject.
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But, of course, I do.
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Is there oil in this area?
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MARIANA: And
what is the situation
with the oil right now?
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MARIANA: There's a
good reason the King
doesn't wanna talk about oil.
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Multinational corporations
like Shell, Chevron, and Exxon
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have exploited the
region's natural resources
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since the 1950s, when Nigeria
was still a British colony.
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Extreme social
inequality has pushed local
communities into oil piracy,
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creating one of the world's
biggest black markets for crude.
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If I want to find
out if Boko Haram is
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benefiting from this
lucrative black market,
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I need to head
into one of the many
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illicit refineries hidden in the
backwaters of the Niger Delta.
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♪ ♪
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(rushing water)
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So, it's this way, yeah?
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MIKE: Yes.
MARIANA: This way? Okay.
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After months of planning, a
contact who was born and raised
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00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:27,348
in this area, helps me
obtain rare access to this site.
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It's crazy.
So this is it, right?
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ALL: Yes.
MARIANA: This isn't oil.
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What is this? What is.
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00:13:34,939 --> 00:13:36,190
MIKE: This is the crude oil.
MARIANA: This is the crude oil?
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00:13:36,190 --> 00:13:38,318
MIKE: Yes.
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MARIANA: And it's coming out,
so this is illegal extraction.
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00:13:41,362 --> 00:13:43,156
So this is, it's
coming out of the pipe.
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00:13:43,156 --> 00:13:44,657
MIKE: Yes.
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00:13:44,657 --> 00:13:47,577
MARIANA: A local named Mike
shows me how they tap pipelines
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00:13:47,577 --> 00:13:52,123
that run through this land,
a process known as bunkering.
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00:13:52,123 --> 00:13:56,127
I received mixed
reports about the owner
of this specific pipeline,
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00:13:56,127 --> 00:13:59,255
but every domestic and
foreign oil company deals
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00:13:59,255 --> 00:14:01,716
with thefts like these.
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00:14:01,716 --> 00:14:06,471
It's estimated that
$7.3 billion of Nigerian oil
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00:14:06,471 --> 00:14:08,765
is stolen every year.
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00:14:08,765 --> 00:14:10,641
And then what happens,
how does it get out of here?
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00:14:18,858 --> 00:14:19,859
MARIANA: Oh, so
they're refining?
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00:14:19,859 --> 00:14:21,069
MIKE: Yes, we're refining.
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00:14:21,069 --> 00:14:22,195
MARIANA: This is
what they call bunkering?
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00:14:22,195 --> 00:14:23,738
MIKE: Yes.
Don't go close to that, please.
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00:14:23,738 --> 00:14:24,739
MARIANA: No, don't.
Is it dangerous?
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00:14:24,739 --> 00:14:26,783
MIKE: Yes.
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00:14:26,783 --> 00:14:28,493
MARIANA: This is all...
MIKE: Yes.
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00:14:28,493 --> 00:14:31,829
MARIANA: I feel
like we're walking
through a ticking time bomb.
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MIKE: Oh, my God.
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MARIANA: Illegal
refining sites like this one
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00:14:39,003 --> 00:14:40,880
are highly volatile.
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Hundreds of workers have died
in accidents and explosions.
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(yelling in native language).
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00:14:48,971 --> 00:14:50,181
CREW: Whoa!
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00:14:50,181 --> 00:14:54,811
(yelling in native language).
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MARIANA: Who's this guy?
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00:14:55,812 --> 00:14:56,854
And what's he doing?
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00:14:56,854 --> 00:14:58,815
(yelling in native language).
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00:14:58,815 --> 00:15:00,566
MARIANA: Why is he so angry?
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00:15:00,566 --> 00:15:03,778
(yelling in native language).
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00:15:03,778 --> 00:15:05,029
MARIANA: What the
(bleep) is happening?
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I don't understand.
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As word spreads that
there's a camera team filming,
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the workers grow suspicious.
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00:15:13,037 --> 00:15:15,081
(yelling in native language).
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00:15:15,081 --> 00:15:17,250
MAN: Are you sure you
are not being sent by
company or companies?
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00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:19,210
MARIANA: No, I work,
I'm a journalist.
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00:15:19,210 --> 00:15:20,878
I work for National Geographic.
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00:15:20,878 --> 00:15:21,963
MAN: Are you sure
of what you're saying?
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MARIANA: I am 100% sure.
I can show you.
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00:15:23,339 --> 00:15:24,632
MAN: Let me see your I.D. card.
244
00:15:24,632 --> 00:15:26,551
(yelling in native language).
245
00:15:26,551 --> 00:15:30,096
MARIANA: They think
we're representatives of
multinational oil companies,
246
00:15:30,096 --> 00:15:33,057
coming to close down
their illegal operation.
247
00:15:33,057 --> 00:15:38,604
(speaking in native language).
248
00:15:38,604 --> 00:15:41,983
MARIANA: Oh my (bleep) Lord,
what's happening?
249
00:15:41,983 --> 00:15:44,443
Josh, come back.
250
00:15:44,443 --> 00:15:51,284
(yelling in native language).
251
00:15:51,284 --> 00:15:54,245
MARIANA: We're just filming,
it's just filming.
252
00:15:58,624 --> 00:16:02,545
(yelling in native language).
253
00:16:02,545 --> 00:16:05,131
MARIANA: I'm investigating
black market oil in Nigeria
254
00:16:05,131 --> 00:16:08,092
and its
connection to Boko Haram.
255
00:16:08,092 --> 00:16:10,052
But workers from an
illegal refinery have
256
00:16:10,052 --> 00:16:12,096
come to shut down our filming.
257
00:16:12,096 --> 00:16:13,389
(yelling in native language).
258
00:16:13,389 --> 00:16:15,516
MARIANA: No, we're not
here by an oil company.
259
00:16:15,516 --> 00:16:17,560
We just want to talk to people.
260
00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,521
MIKE: It's okay. It's okay.
Hey, it's okay.
261
00:16:20,521 --> 00:16:23,232
MARIANA: Years of
colonialism and betrayal have
262
00:16:23,232 --> 00:16:26,694
made it hard for
locals to trust outsiders.
263
00:16:26,694 --> 00:16:30,239
We've, uh, they tell us that
the people have calmed down
264
00:16:30,239 --> 00:16:31,741
and we can now
go back in, right?
265
00:16:31,741 --> 00:16:33,618
MIKE: Yeah.
MARIANA: They've calmed down.
266
00:16:52,053 --> 00:16:53,471
MARIANA: So that's why
you have to do this work?
267
00:16:53,471 --> 00:16:56,807
MIKE: That is why we
have to do this, to eat.
268
00:17:00,603 --> 00:17:02,104
MARIANA: So the sun is
setting and now this is when
269
00:17:02,104 --> 00:17:05,775
they start lighting fire
to these, sort of, big tanks.
270
00:17:05,775 --> 00:17:09,237
By night time, this is all
full of fire and you sort of
271
00:17:09,237 --> 00:17:13,491
understand why this
terrain looks the way it does.
272
00:17:17,870 --> 00:17:20,081
The crude that was
stolen from legal pipelines
273
00:17:20,081 --> 00:17:23,751
eventually becomes an
illegal refined product,
274
00:17:23,751 --> 00:17:27,380
ready to be bought and
sold on the black market.
275
00:17:27,380 --> 00:17:29,340
He's just in there barefoot,
276
00:17:29,340 --> 00:17:33,135
scooping it up and
then putting it in bags.
277
00:17:34,178 --> 00:17:36,222
And there's kerosene and diesel.
278
00:17:36,222 --> 00:17:38,808
MIKE: Yeah, kerosene, diesel.
MARIANA: That's diesel?
279
00:17:38,808 --> 00:17:40,977
MIKE: Yeah.
280
00:17:41,227 --> 00:17:43,437
MARIANA: And then they put
it in the plastic, in the bags,
281
00:17:43,437 --> 00:17:45,147
and take it out of this area?
282
00:17:45,147 --> 00:17:47,024
MIKE: Yeah. Yeah.
MAN: Yeah, yeah.
283
00:17:51,654 --> 00:17:53,030
MARIANA: Wow.
MIKE: Yes.
284
00:17:53,030 --> 00:17:54,407
MARIANA: Oh, wow. It's hot.
285
00:17:54,407 --> 00:17:55,616
It smells so strong.
286
00:17:55,616 --> 00:17:57,118
The strong, the
smell is so, so strong.
287
00:17:57,118 --> 00:17:59,829
MIKE: Yes.
Look at this, yes. Yes.
288
00:18:02,456 --> 00:18:05,293
MARIANA: So this is sort of
the last step of the process of
289
00:18:05,293 --> 00:18:07,044
getting the fuel out of here.
290
00:18:07,044 --> 00:18:09,505
They put all the
diesel into these cars,
291
00:18:09,505 --> 00:18:11,382
and then they, you
drive this car out of here?
292
00:18:11,382 --> 00:18:12,675
EFEELOO: Yeah.
293
00:18:12,675 --> 00:18:13,884
MARIANA: And then from here,
where does it go?
294
00:18:13,884 --> 00:18:15,886
EFEELOO: We distribute
it all over our country.
295
00:18:15,886 --> 00:18:17,680
MARIANA: All over the country?
EFEELOO: Yes.
296
00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:19,223
All over the country.
297
00:18:19,223 --> 00:18:21,267
MARIANA: Including Maiduguri,
all the way up to the north?
298
00:18:21,267 --> 00:18:23,394
EFEELOO: All over.
MARIANA: Mm-hmm.
299
00:18:25,938 --> 00:18:28,774
It's wild that the
diesel in this car could be
300
00:18:28,774 --> 00:18:31,902
making its way north,
through military checkpoints
301
00:18:31,902 --> 00:18:34,030
like the one we saw.
302
00:18:34,030 --> 00:18:36,532
Although we didn't find any
evidence that Boko Haram is
303
00:18:36,532 --> 00:18:38,576
reselling the stolen oil,
304
00:18:38,576 --> 00:18:42,288
the group would be
severely hamstrung without it.
305
00:18:42,288 --> 00:18:44,624
That's why the
Nigerian army is doing
306
00:18:44,624 --> 00:18:48,044
what it can to
choke the supply line.
307
00:18:50,296 --> 00:18:52,632
It's also part of
the reason why the U.S.
308
00:18:52,632 --> 00:18:56,844
is so concerned with the flow
of illicit oil around the globe.
309
00:18:56,844 --> 00:18:58,512
MATTHEW: This may seem like
something that's far away from
310
00:18:58,512 --> 00:19:00,890
the United States,
but it's really not.
311
00:19:00,890 --> 00:19:03,809
MARIANA: Doctor Matthew Levitt
is a former Intelligence Analyst
312
00:19:03,809 --> 00:19:05,561
for the FBI.
313
00:19:05,561 --> 00:19:09,231
He specializes in
counterterrorism and
global extremist groups at
314
00:19:09,231 --> 00:19:12,234
the Washington Institute
for Near East Policy.
315
00:19:12,234 --> 00:19:13,652
MATTHEW: So there's
certainly groups that have used
316
00:19:13,652 --> 00:19:15,780
sanctioned oil or illicit oil.
317
00:19:15,780 --> 00:19:17,990
You've got
Boko Haram in Nigeria.
318
00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:19,492
Of course you have
the Islamic State.
319
00:19:19,492 --> 00:19:23,913
This is unique to groups or
state sponsors of terrorism,
320
00:19:23,913 --> 00:19:27,291
who are sitting on
resource rich territory.
321
00:19:27,291 --> 00:19:30,753
MARIANA: And there
are few countries as
rich in resources as Iran,
322
00:19:30,753 --> 00:19:33,798
one of America's
biggest adversaries and
323
00:19:33,798 --> 00:19:36,384
the main supporter
of a notorious group
324
00:19:36,384 --> 00:19:37,968
called Hezbollah.
325
00:19:37,968 --> 00:19:39,512
(speaking in native language).
326
00:19:39,512 --> 00:19:43,099
MATTHEW: Hezbollah is a militant
organization based in Lebanon
327
00:19:43,099 --> 00:19:45,476
who has carried out terrorist
attacks around the world,
328
00:19:45,476 --> 00:19:47,353
including targeting Americans.
329
00:19:47,353 --> 00:19:52,900
And it is also a deeply
ideologically bound partner to
330
00:19:52,900 --> 00:19:56,362
the Islamic Republic of Iran.
331
00:19:56,696 --> 00:19:59,073
(speaking in native language)
332
00:19:59,073 --> 00:20:01,700
MARIANA: Hezbollah
or Party of God is an
333
00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:05,955
Islamic militant group
founded in the 1980s.
334
00:20:07,123 --> 00:20:10,126
Designated as a terrorist
group by the United States,
335
00:20:10,126 --> 00:20:13,337
it pioneered
modern suicide bombing.
336
00:20:13,712 --> 00:20:17,425
Before 9/11, Hezbollah
was responsible for more
337
00:20:17,425 --> 00:20:20,845
American deaths than
any other terrorist group.
338
00:20:20,845 --> 00:20:22,138
(speaking in native language).
339
00:20:22,138 --> 00:20:24,432
MARIANA: Now,
reinvented as a political party,
340
00:20:24,432 --> 00:20:27,226
Hezbollah wields
significant power in Lebanon.
341
00:20:27,226 --> 00:20:31,772
(speaking in native language).
342
00:20:31,772 --> 00:20:33,899
MATTHEW: Hezbollah is not like
Al Qaeda or the Islamic State,
343
00:20:33,899 --> 00:20:35,067
where it's going to
kill you every time it has
344
00:20:35,067 --> 00:20:38,654
the opportunity, but
its far better trained.
345
00:20:38,654 --> 00:20:42,908
And it benefits from security
and intelligence training that
346
00:20:42,908 --> 00:20:46,162
it gets from Iran and
they wanna be able to
have off the shelf planning,
347
00:20:46,162 --> 00:20:48,706
ready to go, in the
event that they are called
348
00:20:48,706 --> 00:20:52,376
to do something and
do something quickly.
349
00:20:52,376 --> 00:20:54,545
MARIANA: So I'm
heading to Lebanon,
350
00:20:54,545 --> 00:20:57,047
straight into the
heart of Hezbollah,
351
00:20:57,047 --> 00:21:01,302
to witness first-hand
how oil is financing terror.
352
00:21:01,302 --> 00:21:05,347
(speaking in native language).
353
00:21:08,768 --> 00:21:14,815
♪ ♪
354
00:21:21,947 --> 00:21:24,658
MARIANA: I'm on a journey to
understand how black market oil
355
00:21:24,658 --> 00:21:27,203
may be fueling
an even larger and
356
00:21:27,203 --> 00:21:30,372
more dangerous web of extremism.
357
00:21:34,043 --> 00:21:38,172
(singing in native language).
358
00:21:38,172 --> 00:21:40,007
MARIANA: This is one of
the annual celebrations
359
00:21:40,007 --> 00:21:43,260
for Hezbollah, here
with thousands of people.
360
00:21:43,260 --> 00:21:47,306
You can see they're waving the
yellow flag, the Hezbollah flag.
361
00:21:47,306 --> 00:21:54,188
(singing in native language).
362
00:21:56,899 --> 00:22:00,361
MARIANA: I notice that I'm the
only Western journalist here.
363
00:22:00,361 --> 00:22:04,573
It also seems I'm the only
female journalist in sight,
364
00:22:04,573 --> 00:22:07,826
standing in front of
Hezbollah's all male leadership.
365
00:22:07,826 --> 00:22:11,914
(singing in native language)
366
00:22:15,209 --> 00:22:17,545
(speaking in native language)
367
00:22:26,846 --> 00:22:29,056
MARIANA: I lived in this
region nearly two decades ago.
368
00:22:29,056 --> 00:22:32,059
Back then, Hezbollah
was a much smaller group.
369
00:22:32,059 --> 00:22:36,480
But its leader, Hassan Nasrallah
has transformed it into a major
370
00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:41,652
political force,
one based largely on
hostility towards the West.
371
00:22:53,747 --> 00:22:56,959
(speaking in native language).
372
00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:13,309
(singing in native language)
373
00:23:13,309 --> 00:23:15,811
(singing in native language)
374
00:23:16,270 --> 00:23:19,106
MARIANA: What's the current
situation right now in Lebanon?
375
00:23:19,106 --> 00:23:20,357
RAMI: It's a very bad situation,
376
00:23:20,357 --> 00:23:22,276
on the political level,
on the economic level,
377
00:23:22,276 --> 00:23:24,194
on the social level,
on the security level.
378
00:23:24,194 --> 00:23:25,946
The country is drowning.
379
00:23:25,946 --> 00:23:27,364
We are in free fall.
380
00:23:27,364 --> 00:23:29,533
MARIANA: Rami Aysha is a
Lebanese journalist who has
381
00:23:29,533 --> 00:23:31,869
covered the rise of Hezbollah.
382
00:23:31,869 --> 00:23:35,873
I'm hoping he can
help me understand the
reality I'm walking into.
383
00:23:35,873 --> 00:23:37,583
And we're coming
to cover a story,
384
00:23:37,583 --> 00:23:39,460
which is a very
sensitive subject matter here,
385
00:23:39,460 --> 00:23:42,713
which is oil and diesel
in the hands of Hezbollah.
386
00:23:42,713 --> 00:23:44,089
How careful should we be?
387
00:23:44,089 --> 00:23:46,967
RAMI: Ah, you
should be very careful.
388
00:23:46,967 --> 00:23:49,470
I have one of my very good
friends who was assassinated
389
00:23:49,470 --> 00:23:52,806
last year, almost a year ago,
because he was speaking out
390
00:23:52,806 --> 00:23:56,977
about the networks
that Hezbollah uses to
fund themselves which,
391
00:23:56,977 --> 00:23:59,647
which is the, the story
you're doing, is diesel.
392
00:23:59,647 --> 00:24:01,440
MARIANA: Right.
393
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,734
RAMI: Because it's
becoming one of the
sources of funding for them.
394
00:24:03,734 --> 00:24:05,319
MARIANA: And where is
this oil coming from?
395
00:24:05,319 --> 00:24:06,528
Where is this gas coming from?
396
00:24:06,528 --> 00:24:08,030
RAMI: We have
two sources of gas,
397
00:24:08,030 --> 00:24:10,324
the legal one is
coming from Greece.
398
00:24:10,324 --> 00:24:11,700
It's coming from Algeria.
399
00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:13,118
It's many other places.
400
00:24:13,118 --> 00:24:16,455
But for the illegal,
we have the Iranian oil.
401
00:24:16,455 --> 00:24:18,999
MARIANA: Iranian?
RAMI: Iranian oil.
402
00:24:18,999 --> 00:24:21,710
MARIANA: The Iranian oil
Rami mentions was part of
403
00:24:21,710 --> 00:24:28,008
a massive shipment in
late 2021 that openly
defied U.S. Sanctions.
404
00:24:28,008 --> 00:24:30,052
In a highly
politicized spectacle
405
00:24:30,052 --> 00:24:32,054
covered by news
around the world,
406
00:24:32,054 --> 00:24:34,848
Hezbollah organized a
parade of oil tankers
407
00:24:34,848 --> 00:24:38,978
carrying Iranian oil
through the streets of Lebanon.
408
00:24:39,311 --> 00:24:41,480
MATTHEW: Because Iran has
been subject to sanctions for
409
00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:45,567
so many years now, it is
expert at sanctions evasion.
410
00:24:45,567 --> 00:24:48,737
They were able to create
these front companies that very
411
00:24:48,737 --> 00:24:52,408
effectively have been
smuggling oil to the benefit of
412
00:24:52,408 --> 00:24:54,618
really bad illicit actors.
413
00:24:54,618 --> 00:24:58,163
And when it came
to the point that it
needed to finance its proxies,
414
00:24:58,163 --> 00:25:03,168
like Hezbollah, the natural
way to do that was through oil.
415
00:25:03,168 --> 00:25:05,587
MARIANA: They claimed that
this breaking of U.S. Sanctions
416
00:25:05,587 --> 00:25:09,174
was a major victory
for the Lebanese people.
417
00:25:10,134 --> 00:25:11,927
RAMI: You have to be
very careful, you know,
418
00:25:11,927 --> 00:25:15,556
because I don't even
believe that they're
not following you already.
419
00:25:15,556 --> 00:25:17,725
It, it's not that
this is a paranoia,
420
00:25:17,725 --> 00:25:21,895
the first mistake is the
last mistake with these people.
421
00:25:24,273 --> 00:25:27,526
MARIANA: Despite Rami's warnings
I still want to understand how
422
00:25:27,526 --> 00:25:31,822
and why sanctioned Iranian oil
was allowed into the country.
423
00:25:32,781 --> 00:25:35,576
(horn honking)
424
00:25:36,493 --> 00:25:38,495
(speaking in native language).
425
00:25:39,538 --> 00:25:41,999
MARIANA: So I'm headed
to the southern suburbs,
426
00:25:41,999 --> 00:25:44,543
Hezbollah's
stronghold in the city.
427
00:25:46,378 --> 00:25:47,796
It's quite surreal, actually.
428
00:25:47,796 --> 00:25:50,507
We have this wall
of men in front of us,
429
00:25:50,507 --> 00:25:53,385
and we have people
behind us also following us.
430
00:25:53,385 --> 00:25:57,014
As Rami predicted,
Hezbollah is indeed watching,
431
00:25:57,014 --> 00:26:00,017
they've assigned a handful of
minders to keep an eye on me,
432
00:26:00,017 --> 00:26:02,311
as I walk the streets.
433
00:26:03,020 --> 00:26:04,772
MAN: That side?
MAN 2: We'll go this way.
434
00:26:04,772 --> 00:26:06,023
MAN: That one side? Wait.
435
00:26:06,023 --> 00:26:07,941
MARIANA: This way? No?
MAN: Not that side?
436
00:26:07,941 --> 00:26:09,151
MARIANA: That way?
437
00:26:09,151 --> 00:26:10,778
MAN: Yes. That way.
438
00:26:10,778 --> 00:26:13,447
MARIANA: Bus. Bus.
MAN: No, no.
439
00:26:13,447 --> 00:26:15,783
(speaking in native language)
440
00:26:15,783 --> 00:26:18,202
MAN 2: No, that way.
441
00:26:23,499 --> 00:26:26,502
MARIANA: A few months ago,
Hezbollah brought in, um,
442
00:26:26,502 --> 00:26:28,629
very publicly,
brought in oil, um...
443
00:26:28,629 --> 00:26:31,799
ABDUL: Yeah.
MARIANA: Illegal oil from Iran.
444
00:26:31,799 --> 00:26:33,926
Um, why was that decision made?
445
00:26:33,926 --> 00:26:35,761
ABDUL: It's not illegal.
446
00:26:35,761 --> 00:26:39,807
It's a legal initiative
because it was under
447
00:26:39,807 --> 00:26:43,477
a severe economic sanctions.
448
00:26:43,477 --> 00:26:45,479
MARIANA: Doctor
Abdul Haleem Fadlallah
449
00:26:45,479 --> 00:26:47,940
was hand-picked by
Hezbollah's political arm
450
00:26:47,940 --> 00:26:49,942
to speak with me.
451
00:26:49,942 --> 00:26:54,404
Is the oil still,
is the oil from Iran
still coming in right now?
452
00:26:54,404 --> 00:26:56,490
ABDUL: I think, I think no.
453
00:26:56,490 --> 00:26:58,700
I think now, no.
454
00:26:59,409 --> 00:27:04,456
(speaking in native language).
455
00:27:04,456 --> 00:27:05,457
MAN: Yes. Yeah, uh...
456
00:27:09,044 --> 00:27:10,838
MARIANA: Okay.
ABDUL: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
457
00:27:10,838 --> 00:27:12,631
MARIANA: So you
don't feel comfortable
answering the oil questions.
458
00:27:12,631 --> 00:27:14,258
The United States
considers Hezbollah to be
459
00:27:14,258 --> 00:27:15,843
a terrorist organization.
460
00:27:15,843 --> 00:27:18,428
How does that affect, um, you?
461
00:27:18,428 --> 00:27:21,723
ABDUL: This affect,
not affected Hezbollah,
462
00:27:21,723 --> 00:27:24,393
it affected the Lebanese people.
463
00:27:24,393 --> 00:27:29,398
Not Hezbollah,
because the sanction
affected the Lebanese people.
464
00:27:29,398 --> 00:27:33,068
MARIANA: I'm going
back to the oil again.
465
00:27:33,902 --> 00:27:35,320
Was there financial gain?
466
00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,698
Did Hezbollah, is
Hezbollah making money from
467
00:27:37,698 --> 00:27:39,575
the selling of Iranian oil?
468
00:27:39,575 --> 00:27:41,618
ABDUL: No, no, no. No. No.
469
00:27:41,618 --> 00:27:44,204
MARIANA: Absolutely not?
ABDUL: Absolute.
470
00:27:44,204 --> 00:27:46,915
MARIANA: Um, you're sure?
ABDUL: I think so.
471
00:27:46,915 --> 00:27:48,709
MARIANA: After talking
for more than an hour,
472
00:27:48,709 --> 00:27:52,796
Doctor Fadlallah's answers
continue to seem evasive.
473
00:28:11,815 --> 00:28:14,359
To find out more
about the black market oil
474
00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:16,028
they received from Iran,
475
00:28:16,028 --> 00:28:18,780
I've arranged a meeting with
a man who was directly involved
476
00:28:18,780 --> 00:28:20,699
in the shipment.
477
00:28:34,630 --> 00:28:36,632
♪ ♪
478
00:28:36,632 --> 00:28:38,926
MARIANA: I'm Mariana.
ABU HAIDR: Abu Haidr.
479
00:28:38,926 --> 00:28:41,053
MARIANA: Abu Haidr?
Are you Hezbollah?
480
00:28:41,053 --> 00:28:43,096
ABU HAIDR: Yeah.
481
00:28:43,096 --> 00:28:45,849
MARIANA: This man, who
asked me to call him Abu Haidr,
482
00:28:45,849 --> 00:28:48,060
says he works for Hezbollah.
483
00:28:48,060 --> 00:28:51,438
He has first-hand knowledge
about the highly-publicized
484
00:28:51,438 --> 00:28:56,652
oil shipment
of Iranian oil that
brazenly defied U.S. Sanctions.
485
00:28:56,902 --> 00:28:59,529
How did the oil from
Iran come to Lebanon?
486
00:29:10,165 --> 00:29:14,628
MARIANA: When you
talk about secrets, the,
when the oil came from Iran,
487
00:29:14,628 --> 00:29:16,463
it was very public,
it was reported,
488
00:29:16,463 --> 00:29:19,508
what are, what are the secrets
that most people don't know?
489
00:29:42,447 --> 00:29:46,034
MARIANA: Oh, wow.
It was reported that
it came that one time, no?
490
00:29:56,169 --> 00:29:58,922
MARIANA: If Abu Haidr
is telling the truth,
491
00:29:58,922 --> 00:30:02,050
this is clearly a much
bigger smuggling operation
492
00:30:02,050 --> 00:30:04,636
involving multiple countries.
493
00:30:18,066 --> 00:30:19,943
MARIANA: This is
still happening now?
494
00:30:19,943 --> 00:30:22,195
The, the, the oil is still
coming from Iran right now?
495
00:30:25,866 --> 00:30:28,785
MARIANA: What Abu Haidr tells
me directly contradicts what
496
00:30:28,785 --> 00:30:30,912
I'd heard from Doctor Fadlallah.
497
00:30:30,912 --> 00:30:33,874
Is the oil from Iran
still coming in right now?
498
00:30:33,874 --> 00:30:35,959
ABDUL: I think, I think no.
499
00:30:35,959 --> 00:30:38,211
I think now, no.
500
00:30:38,879 --> 00:30:42,466
MARIANA: My hunch is that I
wasn't told the full truth and
501
00:30:42,466 --> 00:30:46,595
that Hezbollah remains active
in the smuggling of Iranian oil.
502
00:30:47,971 --> 00:30:50,974
But there's only one
way to know for sure;
503
00:30:50,974 --> 00:30:55,771
I need to go to the Syrian
border and see for myself.
504
00:31:01,693 --> 00:31:04,029
Um, how far are we?
505
00:31:04,029 --> 00:31:06,323
MAN (over radio):
We need ten minutes.
506
00:31:06,323 --> 00:31:07,324
MARIANA: Ten minutes, okay.
507
00:31:07,324 --> 00:31:09,367
So we're ten minutes away.
508
00:31:09,367 --> 00:31:13,747
We're heading to an area
that's controlled by Hezbollah,
509
00:31:13,747 --> 00:31:18,794
to talk to a member of Hezbollah
that we heard is smuggling oil
510
00:31:18,794 --> 00:31:22,005
between Lebanon and Syria.
511
00:31:24,216 --> 00:31:26,426
This is Lebanon's Beqaa Valley,
512
00:31:26,426 --> 00:31:30,055
a fertile region flanked
by beautiful mountains.
513
00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:32,724
Due to the porous
border with Syria,
514
00:31:32,724 --> 00:31:37,687
this region has become a haven
for smugglers of all kinds.
515
00:31:37,687 --> 00:31:40,732
We have three cars
with us, we're in the middle.
516
00:31:40,732 --> 00:31:42,567
You know, we, it
could be an ambush,
517
00:31:42,567 --> 00:31:44,986
we don't know what to expect.
518
00:31:44,986 --> 00:31:47,906
So, everybody's a bit on edge.
519
00:31:51,451 --> 00:31:54,246
Was that our
contact next to the car?
520
00:31:54,246 --> 00:31:55,664
I guess that's our guy, yeah.
521
00:31:55,664 --> 00:31:57,332
MAN (over radio):
Moving in, we're moving in.
522
00:31:57,332 --> 00:31:58,959
All good.
523
00:31:58,959 --> 00:32:01,545
MARIANA: So we're getting closer
and closer to the Syrian border.
524
00:32:01,545 --> 00:32:03,130
We're just a few
minutes from the border,
525
00:32:03,130 --> 00:32:05,257
it's basically on the
other side of that mountain.
526
00:32:05,257 --> 00:32:09,344
We're following this
small black car at the front.
527
00:32:13,098 --> 00:32:15,433
Oh, we're here, actually.
528
00:32:16,977 --> 00:32:20,897
MAN (over radio):
Don't go out from the
car before Rami tell us.
529
00:32:20,897 --> 00:32:23,150
MAN 2 (over radio): Copy that.
530
00:32:24,151 --> 00:32:25,152
MARIANA: We're good to get out?
531
00:32:25,152 --> 00:32:27,279
Okay, we're gonna leave the car.
532
00:32:32,784 --> 00:32:36,246
What Abu Haidr revealed
on the rooftop is stunning,
533
00:32:36,246 --> 00:32:39,624
but I imagine it's
only part of the story.
534
00:32:49,092 --> 00:32:52,637
Here, away from
Hezbollah's prying eyes,
535
00:32:52,637 --> 00:32:55,682
I'm hoping the smuggler I'm
about to meet can finally reveal
536
00:32:55,682 --> 00:33:00,103
the true extent of these
black market operations.
537
00:33:06,776 --> 00:33:13,200
♪ ♪
538
00:33:14,826 --> 00:33:16,411
MARIANA: Um, so, Abu Ali,
539
00:33:16,411 --> 00:33:17,871
what is it, what
is it that you do?
540
00:33:24,753 --> 00:33:25,795
MARIANA: Are you a
member of Hezbollah?
541
00:33:27,297 --> 00:33:28,882
MARIANA: You're a
supporter of Hezbollah?
542
00:33:32,010 --> 00:33:33,261
MARIANA: So,
just so I understand,
543
00:33:33,261 --> 00:33:35,722
what is your connection,
if any, to Hezbollah?
544
00:33:35,722 --> 00:33:36,848
Do you have
business with Hezbollah?
545
00:33:40,936 --> 00:33:44,564
MARIANA: How much
money are you making
from the smuggling of, of oil?
546
00:33:50,570 --> 00:33:52,280
MARIANA: A, a month?
547
00:33:53,949 --> 00:33:55,242
MARIANA: Every day?
ABU ALI: Mm-hmm.
548
00:33:55,242 --> 00:33:56,826
MARIANA: Five to $7,000 a day.
ABU ALI: Mm-hmm.
549
00:33:56,826 --> 00:33:58,536
MARIANA: Who's benefiting
most from the oil smuggling,
550
00:33:58,536 --> 00:34:00,163
from the illegal Iranian oil?
551
00:34:00,163 --> 00:34:01,706
ABU ALI: Hezbollah.
552
00:34:01,706 --> 00:34:03,333
MARIANA: Hezbollah is the ones
that are profiting the most?
553
00:34:03,333 --> 00:34:04,417
ABU ALI: Yes.
554
00:34:04,417 --> 00:34:05,543
MARIANA: They're
making money from it?
555
00:34:07,796 --> 00:34:09,089
MARIANA: How much money
do you think they're making?
556
00:34:16,179 --> 00:34:17,847
MARIANA: And what are
they doing with the money?
557
00:34:36,366 --> 00:34:37,742
MARIANA: So they're, they're
making money out of the selling
558
00:34:37,742 --> 00:34:40,161
and out of the
transportation of oil.
559
00:34:40,161 --> 00:34:41,705
All, all parts, all the...
560
00:34:41,705 --> 00:34:43,206
The whole process
they're making money out of?
561
00:34:48,962 --> 00:34:51,548
MARIANA: It's astounding to
hear that Iranian oil isn't only
562
00:34:51,548 --> 00:34:56,678
being smuggled into Lebanon,
it's also flowing into Syria.
563
00:34:56,678 --> 00:34:59,764
It's a black market
within a black market,
564
00:34:59,764 --> 00:35:03,560
and it calls into
question another of
Doctor Fadlallah's claims.
565
00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,938
Is Hezbollah making money
from the selling of Iranian oil?
566
00:35:06,938 --> 00:35:09,232
ABDUL: No, no, no. No. No.
567
00:35:09,232 --> 00:35:10,817
MARIANA: Absolutely not?
ABDUL: Absolute.
568
00:35:10,817 --> 00:35:12,402
MARIANA: Hmm.
569
00:35:12,402 --> 00:35:15,739
And all this, all this diesel is
coming from illegal Iranian oil?
570
00:35:19,576 --> 00:35:22,787
MARIANA: Abu Ali invites me to
see how he smuggles oil across
571
00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:25,332
the border into Syria.
572
00:35:25,707 --> 00:35:28,001
(horn honking)
573
00:35:31,796 --> 00:35:34,632
So we're close to
the border right now.
574
00:35:36,926 --> 00:35:40,430
Yes, it's getting really dark
and this is not, you know,
575
00:35:40,430 --> 00:35:43,058
where you wanna
get stuck at night.
576
00:36:04,204 --> 00:36:05,455
MARIANA: Okay. So they're
instructing the drivers to all
577
00:36:05,455 --> 00:36:08,750
turn the cars outwardly,
so if there's an ambush,
578
00:36:08,750 --> 00:36:11,336
or something happens,
we have a fast way out.
579
00:36:16,674 --> 00:36:17,717
MARIANA: Oh, my God.
580
00:36:17,717 --> 00:36:19,594
(speaking in native language).
581
00:36:19,594 --> 00:36:23,807
MARIANA: Everyone's
on edge, we're standing
between a war zone in Syria and
582
00:36:23,807 --> 00:36:27,102
one of the most active
smuggling routes in the world.
583
00:36:27,102 --> 00:36:28,103
Where are we?
584
00:36:33,692 --> 00:36:35,110
MARIANA: So Syria is that way?
585
00:36:35,110 --> 00:36:36,986
ABU ALI: Yeah. Syria.
MARIANA: Syria's right there?
586
00:36:36,986 --> 00:36:39,781
On the other side
of this, that Syria is on
the other side of this mountain.
587
00:36:52,836 --> 00:36:53,837
MARIANA: How many trucks?
588
00:36:53,837 --> 00:36:55,046
(speaking in native language).
589
00:36:55,046 --> 00:36:56,798
ABU ALI: Ten truck.
MARIANA: Ten tonight?
590
00:36:56,798 --> 00:36:58,383
ABU ALI: 30 truck.
591
00:36:58,383 --> 00:37:00,093
MARIANA: 30 trucks
are going tonight?
592
00:37:00,093 --> 00:37:01,970
ABU ALI: Yeah, yeah.
593
00:37:01,970 --> 00:37:04,806
MARIANA: If there
are 30 trucks associated
with just this one smuggler,
594
00:37:04,806 --> 00:37:09,477
it's crazy to think how much
illegal oil crosses this region.
595
00:37:15,233 --> 00:37:17,152
ABU ALI: We
cannot stay too much.
596
00:37:17,152 --> 00:37:18,570
MARIANA: Okay, so he's
saying we can't, so he's
saying we can't stay here
597
00:37:18,570 --> 00:37:19,988
too long, because it gets
a lot of visibility here.
598
00:37:19,988 --> 00:37:20,989
We need to go.
599
00:37:35,086 --> 00:37:37,464
MARIANA: Yeah, we need to go.
600
00:37:43,094 --> 00:37:45,597
Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
601
00:37:49,309 --> 00:37:51,770
MARIANA: Okay, go, go.
602
00:37:56,107 --> 00:37:58,860
I'm in a town close to
the Lebanese/Syrian border,
603
00:37:58,860 --> 00:38:04,199
trying to witness first-hand how
illicit oil is being trafficked.
604
00:38:05,617 --> 00:38:09,329
My first attempt was shut down,
but this is such a wild and
605
00:38:09,329 --> 00:38:13,124
porous border I was able to
gain access to another operation
606
00:38:13,124 --> 00:38:15,794
headed into Syria tonight.
607
00:38:21,549 --> 00:38:23,927
I think it's this one here.
608
00:38:24,427 --> 00:38:26,429
(knocking)
609
00:38:28,348 --> 00:38:30,141
I hear voices.
610
00:38:32,810 --> 00:38:37,732
(speaking in native language).
611
00:38:42,570 --> 00:38:44,030
MARIANA: Wow.
612
00:38:44,030 --> 00:38:47,158
So it's the truck
that they transport the gas.
613
00:38:47,158 --> 00:38:49,911
And it's, the smell
is so intense here,
614
00:38:49,911 --> 00:38:53,998
it's really, really strong
smell of gasoline in here.
615
00:38:53,998 --> 00:38:56,209
This man, who asked
me to call him Mohammed,
616
00:38:56,209 --> 00:38:59,671
manages a fleet of
trucks and this stash house,
617
00:38:59,671 --> 00:39:03,007
which stores illegal fuel.
618
00:39:03,341 --> 00:39:06,928
MOHAMMED: Whoa. Ooh.
619
00:39:06,928 --> 00:39:09,138
MARIANA: Oh my God,
wow, it's all full to
620
00:39:09,138 --> 00:39:11,683
the very top with,
uh, with gasoline.
621
00:39:11,683 --> 00:39:15,186
From here it goes
into the truck, yeah?
622
00:39:17,605 --> 00:39:21,734
He tells me this
10,000 liter shipment is
heading to Syria tonight.
623
00:39:21,734 --> 00:39:25,530
One of three
trucks in his fleet.
624
00:39:26,114 --> 00:39:28,074
Where are the other,
where are the other two?
625
00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,037
MARIANA: But, is this
illegal, what you're doing?
626
00:39:36,874 --> 00:39:37,959
MARIANA: Okay.
627
00:39:37,959 --> 00:39:39,502
(speaking in native language)
628
00:39:39,502 --> 00:39:40,587
MARIANA: So it's
going today to Syria?
629
00:39:40,587 --> 00:39:42,213
Tonight? And are you driving it?
630
00:39:43,590 --> 00:39:50,054
(singing in native language).
631
00:39:50,054 --> 00:39:53,892
(singing in native language).
632
00:39:53,892 --> 00:39:56,894
MARIANA: I join the smuggler
as he makes his way to Syria,
633
00:39:56,894 --> 00:40:00,523
getting as close to
the border as possible.
634
00:40:03,526 --> 00:40:05,987
How, how many times
do you do this trip?
635
00:40:09,115 --> 00:40:11,326
MARIANA: So every day
you're taking fuel to Syria?
636
00:40:16,748 --> 00:40:18,166
MARIANA: Okay, camera down.
637
00:40:26,174 --> 00:40:28,051
MARIANA: Here.
638
00:40:29,385 --> 00:40:32,472
Do you cross through the,
the official border cross line?
639
00:40:32,472 --> 00:40:33,890
Or is it in other roads?
640
00:40:47,153 --> 00:40:48,863
MARIANA: So do
Hezbollah have tanks, too?
641
00:40:48,863 --> 00:40:50,281
Do they have trucks like this?
642
00:40:53,660 --> 00:40:55,161
MARIANA: They do it a lot?
643
00:40:55,161 --> 00:40:58,665
Even though smugglers like
him pay Hezbollah for passage,
644
00:40:58,665 --> 00:41:02,710
that money pales in comparison
to the amount that the group is
645
00:41:02,710 --> 00:41:05,463
making from its
own oil shipments.
646
00:41:27,986 --> 00:41:29,362
MARIANA: Okay.
647
00:41:29,362 --> 00:41:32,490
This is as far as
he's willing to take me.
648
00:41:40,164 --> 00:41:42,083
And there he goes, so
he's heading towards Syria.
649
00:41:42,083 --> 00:41:45,002
He says he does
this once, or twice a day,
650
00:41:45,002 --> 00:41:49,173
but that this is
sort of small potatoes
compared to the business,
651
00:41:49,173 --> 00:41:51,926
the scale of the business
that Hezbollah has here in
652
00:41:51,926 --> 00:41:55,012
this region doing this,
basically smuggling.
653
00:41:58,474 --> 00:42:01,894
This oil truck is one of
seemingly hundreds crisscrossing
654
00:42:01,894 --> 00:42:05,773
this border every night,
ultimately supplying and
655
00:42:05,773 --> 00:42:10,028
supporting some of the most
infamous regimes on the planet.
656
00:42:12,196 --> 00:42:16,951
Syria and Iran, sworn
enemies of the United States.
657
00:42:18,327 --> 00:42:21,706
It's hard to imagine a
black market on this scale.
658
00:42:21,706 --> 00:42:26,127
But it's equally hard to
imagine how you would stop it.
659
00:42:26,461 --> 00:42:29,297
If this is illegal oil,
sanctioned by the United States
660
00:42:29,297 --> 00:42:30,673
and United Nations,
661
00:42:30,673 --> 00:42:33,634
coming into the hands of
a terrorist organization,
662
00:42:33,634 --> 00:42:36,929
why do you think
the United States
allows this to happen?
663
00:42:46,939 --> 00:42:47,982
ABU HAIDR: Yeah?
664
00:42:54,822 --> 00:42:56,991
MARIANA: When I set out to
investigate how terrorist groups
665
00:42:56,991 --> 00:43:00,328
like Hezbollah or
Boko Haram are thriving,
666
00:43:00,328 --> 00:43:02,205
I never expected to find such
667
00:43:02,205 --> 00:43:06,250
a robust trans-national
black market for oil.
668
00:43:06,250 --> 00:43:10,129
One that not only defies
international sanctions.
669
00:43:10,129 --> 00:43:12,965
But that is also bolstering
terrorist organizations and
670
00:43:12,965 --> 00:43:16,260
rogue states all
around the world.
671
00:43:17,178 --> 00:43:19,347
MATTHEW: This very much
ties into American security,
672
00:43:19,347 --> 00:43:21,849
even if it seems like
something that's far away on
673
00:43:21,849 --> 00:43:23,684
the other side of the world.
674
00:43:23,684 --> 00:43:26,229
It's a problem for
us in terms of what
we're paying at the pump,
675
00:43:26,229 --> 00:43:30,066
it's a problem for us in
terms of regional stability.
676
00:43:30,066 --> 00:43:32,819
Iran is sponsoring groups
who chant death to America
677
00:43:32,819 --> 00:43:34,403
and they don't just chant it.
678
00:43:34,403 --> 00:43:35,571
They act on it.
679
00:43:35,571 --> 00:43:37,114
We fear that
Hezbollah operatives,
680
00:43:37,114 --> 00:43:40,118
sleeper cells around
the world, could be activated,
681
00:43:40,118 --> 00:43:43,788
including some that we found
here in the United States.
682
00:43:43,788 --> 00:43:45,623
This is the real deal.
683
00:43:45,623 --> 00:43:48,626
MARIANA: In the end, what
is true of the legal market is
684
00:43:48,626 --> 00:43:53,840
also true of the
illegal one, oil is king,
685
00:43:53,840 --> 00:43:56,259
and it fuels everything,
686
00:43:56,259 --> 00:44:00,179
including some of America's
most dangerous enemies.
687
00:44:00,179 --> 00:44:01,430
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.