US names Israelis in money laundering network

According to the US Treasury, the network laundered hundreds of millions of dollars for Colombian drug traffickers.

The US Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on a money laundering ring that dealt in proceeds of the drugs trade and operated in Colombia. Among those allegedly involved in the affair are Israelis Isaac Perez Guberek Ravinovicz and his son Henry Guberek Grimberg, who has both Colombian and Israeli citizenship, along with 29 other individuals and companies, including companies registered in Colombia, Panama, and Israel.

It is alleged that the members of the ring laundered hundreds of millions of dollars for drug traffickers Jose Evaristo Linares Castillo and Ayman Saied Joumaa. Hizbullah is allegedly among those people and organizations that have benefitted from the latter's global narcotics enterprises.

According to the Department of the Treasury, the two Israelis used textiles companies in Colombia as the basis for their money laundering operations. They used these companies' bank accounts, as well as straw companies registered in Panama to enable the drug traffickers to launder cash.

Some of the pair's relatives are suspected of supporting and aiding their activities.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 10, 2013

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013

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