U.S. cites 19 Mexican drug fronts

San Antonio Express-News/Houston Chronicle ^ | 12/12/2007 | Dudley Althaus

[SwinneySwitch]

MEXICO CITY — U.S. Treasury officials Wednesday named 19 companies reportedly controlled by the sister of an indicted Mexican drug trafficker as money laundering operations for narcotics proceeds.

Blanca Cazares was named along with 22 other Mexican nationals as being responsible for laundering drug profits from cocaine and other narcotics sold across the United States through boutiques, money exchange houses and other Mexican businesses.

"Today's action exposes Blanca Cazares' sophisticated money laundering apparatus and subjects it to powerful economic sanctions," said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The designation puts "the global community on notice about the illicit activities of this network," he said.

Cazares is the sister of Victor Emilio Cazares, who was relatively unknown until the Drug Enforcement Administration indicted him in February on charges of running a widespread narcotics smuggling operation through California.

That operation was shut down with a February bust in which 66 people were arrested across the United States and $45 million in cash was seized along with tons of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines.

U.S. officials have designated Emilio Cazares, who remains at large, as a "drug kingpin" allied with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Blanca Cazares "owns and controls a complex network of businesses located throughout Mexico," the treasury officials said, including clothing stores, radio stations and real estate in Sinaloa; a clothing import company in Mexico City and an eight-state chain of boutiques called Chikas; a popular restaurant, money exchange houses and other businesses in Tijuana.

The Sinaloa Cartel's rivalry with the Gulf Cartel, based in the Mexican cities bordering far South Texas, is blamed for much of the gangland bloodshed racking Mexico, which has claimed about 2,500 lives this year.

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dudley.althaus@chron.com

[SwinneySwitch]

Follow the money!

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[texastoo]

The Sinaloa Cartel's rivalry with the Gulf Cartel, based in the Mexican cities bordering far South Texas, is blamed for much of the gangland bloodshed racking Mexico, which has claimed about 2,500 lives this year.

They mean business. However, when one family disappears, another will start. They won't miss a beat.

[subterfuge]

narcotics sold across the United States through boutiques

I think what they mean by "boutiques" is whorehouses.

[taxed2death]

Yes, I agree with GWB, Chertoff and the rest of them...now I understand 100% why we need open borders and unfettered travel between countries.

/s

[Fresh Wind]

Blanca Cazares was named along with 22 other Mexican nationals as being responsible for laundering drug profits from cocaine and other narcotics sold across the United States through boutiques, money exchange houses and other Mexican businesses.

Cocaine is sold through boutiques, money exchange houses, and other Mexican businesses?

[SJSAMPLE]

I was just working in Central Mexico last month and you won’t believe the hero-worship they have for Blanca Cazares.

That country is lost.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ok, so how about actually naming the business, their addresses, and owners.

[SwinneySwitch]

For a complete list of the individuals and entities designated today, please visit:

http://www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/index.shtml.