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15 February 2005

"Money Runner" for Mexican Drug Cartel Arrested by U.S. Agents

Fugitive arrested aboard cruise ship in Los Angeles

By Eric Green
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- U.S. agents aboard a cruise ship in Los Angeles have arrested a Mexican fugitive long wanted in a “historic” money-laundering investigation, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced February 11.

ICE, an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said its agents arrested Juan Medina Jr., an accused "money runner" (courier of money) for Mexico's Juarez drug cartel, when the Monarch of the Seas returned from a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico.  ICE agents identified Medina during a routine screening of the vessel's passenger manifest.

The screening revealed that Medina, 36, was wanted on an outstanding warrant issued in 1998.  ICE agents say Medina's wife won the cruise through her job.

ICE said Medina is one of 112 individuals and three major Mexican banks indicted in an undercover ICE investigation called Operation Casablanca.  Launched in 1995, the investigation targeted professional money launderers for Colombia's Cali drug cartel and Mexico's Juarez drug cartel, as well as numerous Mexican and Venezuelan bankers who helped launder their drug proceeds.

When it culminated in May 1998, Operation Casablanca was considered the largest drug money-laundering investigation in U.S. history, said ICE.  It resulted in the seizure of more than $100 million and the arrest of more than 160 individuals, including dozens of Mexican and Venezuelan bankers.

ICE said that in January, Mexican authorities announced the capture of another suspect in Operation Casablanca: Jose Alvarez-Tostado.  Alvarez was one of ICE's "Ten Most Wanted" fugitives and the accused financial manager of Mexico's Juarez drug cartel.  Alvarez allegedly collected and laundered millions of dollars from cartel drug sales in cities across the United States.

The U.S. Department of Treasury defines money laundering as the "process of introducing the proceeds of crime into the legitimate stream of financial commerce by masking their origin."  The Treasury Department says money laundering is a "global phenomenon of enormous reach."

In a global effort to thwart money launderers, Mexico, along with the United States, is a member of the financial action task force on money laundering of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to the U.S. Department of State.  Mexico has made progress in strengthening its financial system through specific anti-money-laundering legislation enacted in 2000 and 2004, according to the State Department.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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