An operation carried out simultaneously in the U.S., Italy, Colombia, Spain, and Puerto Rico arrested 22 alleged members of a criminal group which laundered money for Colombian mafia organization the Oficina de Envigado.
Twelve of the arrests were reportedly made in Colombia, and the detainees were wanted for extradition to the U.S. Four were arrested in Italy, four in the U.S., one in Spain and one in Puerto Rico.
Some $480 million was confiscated, most in Colombia and the U.S. The majority of the accused were described as accountants and businessmen in charge of laundering money through legitimate businesses and properties in collaboration with the Oficina de Envigado, a Medellin-based criminal organization.
Authorities said that the operation against the trans-national criminal group began over three years ago and has made a total of 83 arrests worldwide. Among those arrested in Medellin was Aldo Fernando Guerrero Clavijo, alias “El Rolo,” who police said was the group’s primary link to foreign money laundering networks.