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1992
OPERATION
DINERO
Operation Dinero,
a joint DEA/IRS (Internal Revenue Service) operation, was launched by
the DEA's Atlanta Division in 1992. In this investigation, the U.S. Government
successfully operated a financial institution in Anguilla for the purpose
of targeting the financial networks of international drug organizations.
In addition, a number of undercover corporations were established in different
jurisdictions as multi-service "front" businesses designed to supply money
laundering services such as loans, cashier's checks, wire transfers, and
peso exchanges, or to establish holding companies or shell corporations
for the trafficking groups. Believing these services were legitimate,
the Cali mafia engaged the bank to sell three paintings, a Picasso, a
Rubens, and a Reynolds. These paintings, estimated to have a combined
value of $15 million, were seized by the DEA and IRS in 1994.
The operation resulted
in 116 arrests in the United States, Spain, Italy, and Canada and the
seizure of nine tons of cocaine, and the seizure of more than $90 million
in cash and other property. The two-year joint enforcement operation was
coordinated by the DEA, IRS, INS, FBI, and international law enforcement
counterparts in the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and Spain.
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