Venezuela Iran ghost flights
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 flihght raised international concern.
Background
[edit]In the mid 2000s Venezuela under Presidents Hugo Chávez and Iran under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have significantly strengthened the relations.[1][2][3] This connections led to the estblishment of what became to known as "aeroterror", a weekly flight line Caracas–Damascus–Tehran operational between 2007-2010.[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 transfering 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]
Aircraft and operators
[edit]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]
Notable Incidents
[edit]2022 Argentina plane seizure
[edit]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]
Paraguay Connection
[edit]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]
Alleged sanctions evasion
[edit]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]
Strategic Implications
[edit]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]
International Response
[edit]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]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Tehran-Caracas Axis". newspaper.irandaily.ir. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "The Ahmadinejad-Chávez Partnership". UANI. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "Iran-Venezuela relations: Presidents, postures, and pressures". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b Lopez, Linette. "AEROTERROR: A regular flight from Caracas to Tehran carried more drugs and money than people". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b c "Ghost Flights, Terror Frights: Why Iran, Hezbollah 'Footprint' In Venezuela Matters". WLRN. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Barnes, Ed (2015-03-26). "EXCLUSIVE: Venezuela Cancels Round-Trip 'Terror Flight' to Syria and Iran". Fox News. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Emanuele Ottolenghi, Opinion Contributor (2024-02-19). "How the US can ground Iran's 'terrorist airlines'". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2025-03-15. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ a b "Venezuela's Mystery Plane Shows Iran's Strategic Penetration of Latin America – TRADOC G2 Operational Environment Enterprise". Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "Venezuelan Airline Collaborating With Iran's Sanctioned Mahan Air Hit by Commerce and Justice Department Actions | Kharon". www.kharon.com. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Peters, Luke (2024-01-08). "More drama: Venezuelan 747 held by Argentina to be handed to US authorities - AeroTime". www.aerotime.aero. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Vitale, Cat (2024-01-08). "Argentina surrenders Emtrasur 747 aircraft to the US". Airport Technology. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "Paraguay launches probe into Emtrasur 747's Ciudad del Este stop". MercoPress. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "How Iran's Ghost Fleet Sidesteps U.S. Sanctions". Yahoo News. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "Iran-Venezuela Attempt to Evade US Sanctions | International Institute for Iranian Studies" (in Arabic). 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b "Iran's Misuse of Civilian Aircraft". UANI. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ a b "U.S. seizes Boeing 747 cargo plane that Iranian airline sold to Venezuelan company". 2024.
- ^ a b Aviacionline. "Venezuelan Boeing 747-300M with Iranian ties, finally seized by the United States". Aviacionline | Aviacionline es el sitio de aviación en español más leído del mundo. Presenta noticias de aerolíneas, aviones, aeropuertos, y demás. (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-09.