US authorities have charged eleven individuals from 4 US states for their alleged involvement in an international money laundering and drug trafficking organization involving cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy). Three defendants are still at large.
Through an extensive undercover operation, the authorities identified the leader of the criminal organization involved in laundering millions of dollars and distributing kilograms of cocaine. The leader allegedly directed his co-conspirators to deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and millions of dollars in wire transfers and bank deposits to undercover agents in exchange for cryptocurrency. The laundered money, which was over $25 million, constituted drug trafficking and fraud proceeds.
Authorities have traced the illicit funds from the criminal organization to China, India, Cambodia, Brazil and elsewhere.
Source: US Department of Justice
