Off the wire
• Urgent: U.S. dollar rallies on Yellen's comments  • Urgent: Gold down on positive U.S. data, stronger dollar  • Urgent: Oil prices dive as inventories add  • Irish PM hopes Ireland becomes an education nation  • Feature: Winter rain worsens situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon  • Over 400 arrested for poaching in Mozambique since 2014  • Slovak president signs agreement on tax information exchange with U.S.  • Austria notifies EU of border control extensions  • Urgent: UN chief commends efforts by China, France to push for climate pact  • Africa Focus: China enhances cooperation with African media industry  
You are here: 　 Home

Panama disbands money laundering ring run by "El Chapo" Guzman

Xinhua, November 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Panamanian authorities Wednesday said they have disbanded a money laundering ring that was remotely operated by fugitive Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

The joint operation, carried out with the help of Mexican and Colombian authorities, led to the arrest of scores of financial operatives with ties to the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group, authorities said.

Panama's Minister of Public Security Rodolfo Aguilera said the ring included Panamanians, Mexican members of Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel and Colombians belonging to the FARC's 30th Front, according to Panama's TVN television network.

The head of Panama's National Police, Omar Pinzon, said 50 suspects were arrested as part of the three-nation operation.

Panama, he said, has requested the extradition of a Mexican couple that served as negotiators with the FARC front.

TVN said authorities also confiscated 50,000 U.S. dollars, five speedboats, 38 vehicles and four tons of drugs, as part of the operation.

Guzman remains at large after escaping from a maximum security prison in central Mexico. Enditem