MIAMI -- Federal prosecutors say undercover agents brought down a money laundering ring that they describe as one of the world's most notorious.
The ring laundered $30 million for drug traffickers in just four years, authorities said.
Over the past few days, the agents who infilitrated the organization have arrested 28 of 36 defendants named in an indictment released Friday -- including the two alleged ringleaders. The suspects, prosecutors said, were taken into custody across the country and in Colombia.
The agents also seized 69 bank accounts and nearly $13 million in the United States and Colombia.
The indictment "strikes at one of the very top targets in the drug trafficking world," said U.S. Attorney Marcos Jimenez.
Attorney General John Ashcroft has said the ring was one of the world's most wanted drug and money laundering organizations.
The profits came from drug dealing in Chicago, Connecticut, Florida, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. Arrests were made in each location. Money movements were tracked through the island of Curacao and the British Virgin Islands.
Alleged ringleaders Ivan Henao, 50, of Weston, and Paul Mejia, 45, of Bogota, Colombia, were taken into custody in the United States.
Henao has not hired an attorney. Mejia's attorney, Arnoldo Suri, had no comment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration said the arrests represent a "re-energized effort" to attack the financial underpinnings of drug cartels.
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The ring laundered $30 million for drug traffickers in just four years, authorities said.
Over the past few days, the agents who infilitrated the organization have arrested 28 of 36 defendants named in an indictment released Friday -- including the two alleged ringleaders. The suspects, prosecutors said, were taken into custody across the country and in Colombia.
The agents also seized 69 bank accounts and nearly $13 million in the United States and Colombia.
The indictment "strikes at one of the very top targets in the drug trafficking world," said U.S. Attorney Marcos Jimenez.
Attorney General John Ashcroft has said the ring was one of the world's most wanted drug and money laundering organizations.
The profits came from drug dealing in Chicago, Connecticut, Florida, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. Arrests were made in each location. Money movements were tracked through the island of Curacao and the British Virgin Islands.
Alleged ringleaders Ivan Henao, 50, of Weston, and Paul Mejia, 45, of Bogota, Colombia, were taken into custody in the United States.
Henao has not hired an attorney. Mejia's attorney, Arnoldo Suri, had no comment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration said the arrests represent a "re-energized effort" to attack the financial underpinnings of drug cartels.
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