Mysterious Trail of Hezbollah’s Exploding Pagers

The supply chain for the sabotaged Hezbollah pagers spans multiple countries and involves several companies with unclear connections.

The trail leads from Taiwan through Eastern Europe, ultimately reaching Hezbollah in Lebanon.

1. Taiwan

Company: Gold Apollo
Role: Initially identified as the manufacturer of the pagers.
Key Points: Label on exploded pager indicated Gold Apollo as manufacturer.
Company denied making the pagers.
Claimed licensing was sold to BAC Consulting in Hungary.

2. Hungary

Company: BAC Consulting
Role: Alleged buyer of pager manufacturing license.
Key Points: Registered in 2022.
Listed activities include selling telecommunications devices.
Sales of about $600,000 last year.
Key Figure: Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono (CEO and sole employee). Her background includes claimed work for European Commission and internship at IAEA
Described as elusive by acquaintances.
Company website taken offline after the incident.

3. Bulgaria

Company: Norta Global Ltd.
Role: Allegedly sold pagers to Hezbollah.
Key Points: Registered in Sofia in April 2022 by a Norwegian citizen.
Transferred €1.6 million to BAC Consulting.
Listed activity: "Technological project management"
Revenue of around $750,000 from consulting activities.

4. Norway

Company: NortaLink (connection to Norta Global unclear).
Key Figure: Rinson JoseListed as head of Norta Global
Self-described as "entrepreneur" at Oslo-based NortaLink.

5. Lebanon

End Point: Hezbollah.
Outcome: Pagers exploded in Hezbollah-controlled areas.

Source: WSJ