Latin America 298 stories

Money laundering

Chile: thirteen convicted for 762 million peso fraud against municipality

According to BioBioChile, a court convicted thirteen people of tax fraud and asset laundering exceeding 762 million pesos to the detriment of the Gabriel González Videla Municipal Corporation of La Serena, through false invoices and fabricated activity reports between 2019 and 2021 detected by a Comptroller's Office audit.

ESvia BioBioChile26 Jul 2026
Money laundering

Co-Founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia Sentenced to Life in Prison and Ordered to Forfeit $15 Billion in Drug Trafficking Profits

Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as 'El Mayo,' age 76, was sentenced to life in federal prison and ordered to pay $15 billion in criminal forfeiture for his role as the principal leader of the Sinaloa Cartel for nearly four decades.

ENGLISHvia U.S. Department of Justice20 Jul 2026
Money laundering

Argentina's financial crime unit continues as plaintiff in money laundering case against businessman Suris

Juan Ignacio Suris, an entrepreneur from Bahía Blanca, heads an organization accused of incorporating illicit funds into the formal economic circuit through money laundering activities connected to drug trafficking and fraudulent invoice schemes. The case remains in preliminary trial phase.

ESvia Infobae Argentina16 Jul 2026
Money laundering

Spanish National Police and Panamanian authorities arrest four in €140 million fraud network spanning multiple European countries

Authorities arrested four individuals—two in Portugal, one in Spain, and one in Panama—in connection with an alleged criminal network that prosecutors say stole €140 million across several European countries through fake investment platforms, CEO impersonation scams, fraudulent invoices and 'Man in the Middle' cyberattacks.

ENvia Newsroom Panama13 Jul 2026
Money laundering

This is how 'Chiquito Malo', head of the Gulf Clan, ordered the construction of mansions with swimming pools in Antioquia while negotiating with the Government

Authorities obtained audio recordings in which Jhobanis de Jesús Ávila Villadiego, alias Chiquito Malo, leader of the Gulf Clan, allegedly instructed his sister to build luxury properties in Antioquia using suspected drug trafficking funds, while simultaneously participating in peace negotiations with the Colombian government.

ESvia Infobae7 Jul 2026
Bribery & corruption

Former government employee of the Cusco Regional Government convicted of offering 2,000 soles hidden in guinea pig dish

Marisol Torres Taipe, former secretary of the Human Resources Office of the Cusco Regional Government, was convicted to three years and four months of effective imprisonment, five years of disqualification from public office, a fine of 3,293.75 soles and civil liability of 3,000 soles to the State.

ESvia Infobae4 Jul 2026
Fraud & scams

Vialidad: Updated Asset Forfeiture Amount for Cristina Kirchner and Other Convicted Defendants Totals $898 Billion Pesos

Argentina's Supreme Court upheld the asset forfeiture system in the Vialidad corruption case against former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and businessman Lázaro Báez. Prosecutor Luciani recalculated the seizure amount at approximately 898 billion pesos (updated from an original 84.

ESvia Infobae3 Jul 2026
Fraud & scams

Defendants Accused of Fraud at Intrant Sent to Trial for Embezzlement and Criminal Association in Dominican Republic

Hugo Beras (former Intrant director), businessman Jochi Gómez, Juan Francisco Álvarez Carbuccia and José Ángel Gómez Canaán were sent to trial on June 5, 2026 on charges including embezzlement, criminal association, fraud against the State, sabotage, identity usurpation, technological offenses, document forgery and violations of the weapons law.

ESvia Infobae República Dominicana2 Jul 2026
Money laundering

U.S. Treasury sanctions two individuals linked to Brazilian PCC criminal group money laundering network

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two Brazilian citizens—Victor Henrique de Oliveira Shimada and Stella Stefanie Nunes Henrique de Oliveira—and multiple companies for alleged involvement in money laundering connected to the PCC criminal organization.

ESvia Infobae2 Jul 2026
Money laundering

Money laundering scheme in a Pilar country club involving a businesswoman, a veteran drug trafficker, and a 'Mameluco' Villalba player

Argentina's Federal Tribunal No. 4 of San Martín convicted María Eugenia Maronna (49, auto agency owner), Fernando Aldo de Bórtoli (39), and Ricardo Gabriel Sosa (44, alias 'El Gaby') for laundering narcotics proceeds through purchase of a property lot (Lote 19) in Los Sauces country club, Pilar,…

ESvia Infobae23 Jun 2026
Money laundering

Toledo sees his death approaching and confesses that Odebrecht bribe was $45 million, not $35 million: 'It's in Zurich'

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo stated during an appellate hearing that Odebrecht bribes totaled $45 million ($42M USD + €3M), contradicting previous judicial figures of $35M. Toledo claimed funds are held at LGT Bank in Zurich under account holder Urs Fidel Frick.

ESvia Infobae18 Jun 2026
Trafficking

The lawyer who signed too much

Venezuelan lawyer Oscar Cunto André, a senior attorney at Dentons' Venezuela offices, is mentioned in over 800 pages of Spanish National Police judicial proceedings in the 'Zapatero case' involving former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

ESvia Armando.info14 Jun 2026
Fraud & scams

Prosecution of Two Former Kirchnerist Officials Receiving Potenciar Trabajo Benefits Confirmed

The Federal Chamber of Comodoro Rivadavia confirmed the prosecution of two former officials from the Kirchnerist government who improperly collected the Potenciar Trabajo social plan while serving in public office, constituting a corruption offense related to embezzlement of funds designated for social assistance.

ESvia Infobae3 Jun 2026
Bribery & corruption

EsSalud statement following Public Ministry proceedings for alleged corruption case and clarification on investigation involving S/ 1,800 million

The Public Ministry conducted urgent proceedings at EsSalud headquarters investigating alleged corruption related to a proposed Emergency Decree. The investigation focuses on a potential direct contracting scheme valued at S/ 1.8 billion that would have avoided standard public bidding procedures.

ESvia Infobae31 May 2026
Money laundering

Man captured with more than $74 million in cash in Cauca: possible electoral corruption being investigated

A 26-year-old man was captured in northern Cauca with more than 74 million pesos in cash during security operations for the presidential election. He was detained for alleged money laundering. Preliminary hypothesis points to financing of criminal structures or electoral corruption practices.

ESvia Publimetro Colombia28 May 2026
Money laundering

Judicial corruption in Rosario: new cooperating witness confesses and tomorrow vote on impeachment of Judge Salmain

Third cooperating witness Gabriel Mizzau, public accountant, admitted to simultaneously working for former Judge Marcelo Bailaque and drug trafficker Esteban Lindor Alvarado. Confessed to money laundering 2014-2018 through two shell companies belonging to Alvarado organization.

ESvia Infobae27 May 2026
Money laundering

Argentine Justice charged the financier convicted in the United States for laundering USD 1.2 billion from Venezuela's oil

Judge Marcelo Aguinsky charged Luis Fernando Vuteff, Argentine financier, with money laundering of illicit sources conducted habitually and imposed an embargo of $5.1 million USD. Vuteff was convicted in the US (December 2024) to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to launder $1.

ESvia Infobae26 May 2026
Bribery & corruption

Prosecutor's office orders 60-day investigation into Rafael López Aliaga for alleged corruption and summons him to testify June 4

Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office initiated 60-day preliminary investigation against former Lima mayor Rafael López Aliaga for alleged collusion and incompatible negotiation in 'irregular' and 'illegal' S/4 billion municipal bond issuance that committed up to 61% of municipality's historical income.

ESvia Infobae Perú19 May 2026
Money laundering

Honduras-Based Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Smuggling, Money Laundering, and Material Support to CJNG

Wenshen Xu, 52, a Honduras-based Chinese national, pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, conspiring to launder money derived from drug trafficking, and providing material support to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice3 Feb 2026
Money laundering

Treasury Sanctions Cartel-Linked Casinos and Key Associates on U.S.-Mexico Border

OFAC designated six targets connected to Cartel del Noreste (CDN), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Action targeted Casino Centenario in Nuevo Laredo (two miles from U.S. border) and Diamante Casino in Tampico, which CDN allegedly used for money laundering and as drug stash houses.

ENvia U.S. Treasury DepartmentUndated
Other

Co-Founder of Controversial Spyware Firm Had Israeli Diplomatic Passport

An investigation by OCCRP, Código Morse, and Shomrim revealed that NSO Group co-founder Shalev Hulio used an Israeli diplomatic passport to enter Panama in December 2013, according to migration records that show he listed his profession as 'diplomat' and stated he would stay at the Israeli embassy.

ENvia OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project)Undated