The US Attorney’s Office in San Diego has charged 40 people in connection to an international money laundering scheme dating back to 2015 involving millions of Mexican cartel drug money. Approximately $6 million in cash as well as large quantities of weapons and drugs such as methamphetamines, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and marijuana were seized by investigators.
Prosecutors stated that brokers based in Mexico supervised a system called “money movers” which allowed drug proceeds to be transported into the US through duffel bags, boxes or deposits into funnel bank accounts below the reporting threshold and then taken out in a different area or country within a short amount of time. The money was then transferred to fake Mexican company accounts being used by the Sinaloa cartel and other drug suppliers. Undercover agents also reported witnessing cash deliveries taking place in public parking lots in many states across the US including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and more. US Attorney Adam Braverman stated “By following the money, we have discovered large quantities of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine that are no longer destined for the streets of America… [making] our communities safer.”
In total, 75 people in the US are being charged in this case for violations such as drug distribution and transportation including Juan Duarte-Tello and Diana Aurora Holguin-Gallegos of Missouri who are currently awaiting trial.
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