México City.- The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (OFAC, for its acronym in English), sanctioned 15 operators of the Cartel of Sinaloa several of them fugitives, and six Mexican companies, for participating in a broad money laundering network resulting from the sale of fentanyl.
This network, according to OFAC, has laundered money for the organization of “Los Chapitos” – sons of drug lord Joaquín Guzmán Loera – and for drug trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, through cell phone businesses, food services and the sale of clothing settled in cities like Culiacán and Mazatlán, Sinaloa; Cancun Quintana Roo; and San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora.
“Those sanctioned are involved at different stages and to different degrees in a ‘black market in peso’ (BMPE) scheme to launder money from the sale of illicit fentanyl for the Cartel. Sinaloa” OFAC noted.
“Today’s action would not have been possible without the continued collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Phoenix Field Division and its Scottsdale Task Force. Additionally, this action was closely coordinated with the Government of México , including the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF)”.
They wash with cell phone company
Among the companies sanctioned is the cell phone business, Smart Depot, which has branches in the cities of Culiacán, Mazatlán and Cancún, with derived names such as “Smart DepotMx.”
According to the investigations, suppliers of fentanyl to the Cartel, such as brothers Arturo D’ Artagnan Marín González and Porthos Marín González, negotiated sales of fentanyl in the United States and used the proceeds from illicit sales – which were in bulk in US dollars – to buy cell phones. of American companies.
After the cell phones were transported to México, they sold them in Smart Depot stores, thus acquiring profits in national currency. But it was not the only cell phone company used by this Cartel network. Sinaloa to launder their profits from the sale of fentanyl.
Jorge Alejandro García Velazco, who is the partner of the Marín brothers in San Luis Río Colorado, used together with his wife, Mayra Gisel González Cordero, the Celulandia Taller & Store SLRC business.
“Like the Marín brothers, Jorge García operates a BMPE scheme to launder drug money for the Cartel. Assisted by Mayra González, Jorge García’s scheme involves Celulandia, which has two locations in San Luis Río Colorado” , he added.
“OFAC designated Jorge García for having provided or attempted to provide financial, material or technological support for goods or services in support of the Cartel; and designated Celulandia for being owned controlled or (…) directly or indirectly by Jorge García”
‘Chapitos’ operators
Also named were “fentanyl suppliers” Rolando Verduzco Castro and Jesús Manuel León Valdez, “El Güero de las Trancas,” who used the BMPE scheme run by the Marín brothers to launder illicit profits.
Verduzco is also identified as a supplier of methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine; He often works with Fausto Isidro Mesa Flores, “Chapo Isidro”, considered one of the current leaders of the Cartel. Sinaloa.
Meanwhile, León works directly with the “Chapitos”, who lead a powerful faction of the Cartel. Investigations show that his residence is in Las Trancas, Tamazula, Durango, where he supervises clandestine methamphetamine and fentanyl laboratories.
Other collaborators of the “Chapitos” designated by OFAC are Alan Gabriel Nunez Herrera and Jesús Tirado Andrade; He is accused of supplying fentanyl and the second is the operator of a clandestine laboratory and arms smuggler.
And also from ‘El Mayo’
The United States discovered that this network also uses the BMPE scheme to launder money from the faction led by “El Mayo.” Among those involved is Jesús Norberto Larranga Herrera, “El 30”, who operates in Culiacán and surrounding municipalities, and works for his father-in-law, Víctor Lizárraga Martínez, “El 20”, a former police officer turned high-level operator. for boss
Karla Gabriela Lizárraga Sánchez, Larranaga’s wife and Lizárraga’s daughter, is involved in drug trafficking and cash smuggling. Meanwhile, brothers Alexis and Edy Vergara Meza are suppliers of fentanyl.
“They coordinate the distribution of drugs throughout the United States, money laundering and cash smuggling. Jesús Larranaga also uses illicit drug money to buy weapons in the United States,” he added.
The sanctioned people are:
Jorge Alejandro García Velazco, Mayra Gisel González Cordero, Jesús Norberto Larranga, Jesús Manuel León Valdez, Víctor Lizárraga Martínez, Karla Gabriela Lizárraga Sánchez, Arturo D’Artagnan Marín González, Porthos Marín González, Alan Gabriel Núñez Herrera, Adilene Mayre Robledo Arredondo, Iván Yareth Robledo Arredondo, Jesús Tirado Andrade, Rolando Verduzco Castro, Alexis Vergara Meza, Edy Vergara Meza
The sanctioned companies are:
– Bufalauss
– Celulandia Workshop & Store
– Sweet Volcano
-Royal Room Dress
– SmartDepot
– Total Look
Source: Antonio Baranda / Agencia Reforma from El Diario on 2024-03-22 15:07:18
