A five year prison sentence linked to a scheme that laundered 1.2 million dollars marked the end of a cross-border investigation that ultimately resulted in extradition and a guilty plea. The case centered on a laundering network that moved drug-derived proceeds through bulk cash pickups in multiple U.S. cities before routing the funds through accounts registered under other names. Prosecutors detailed how the operation shifted money rapidly between the United States and Colombia, creating the appearance of legitimate transfers while concealing the origin of the assets. The scale and structure of the transactions formed the basis of the money laundering conspiracy charge that led to the conviction.
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Money laundering conspiracy across three countries
The case presents a detailed view of how a laundering network generated liquidity for drug traffickers while bypassing regulated financial channels. Investigators found that the network coordinated cash pickups from multiple locations in the United States after proceeds entered from Mexico. Couriers collected large volumes of currency that originated from drug trafficking transactions, then delivered them to locations where they were deposited into U.S. accounts that did not belong to the true owners of the funds. These accounts were held under the names of unrelated individuals or companies, which served to obstruct transactional tracing.
Once the cash entered the banking system, the funds were moved rapidly through layered transactions to appear legitimate. Transfers to Colombia followed soon after deposits in the United States, creating an impression of unrelated commercial activity. The structure relied on velocity, which limited the time available for financial institutions to detect anomalies. Corresponding deliveries in Colombian pesos were made within days to Nunez Daza and his couriers, demonstrating a parallel exchange market that bypassed formal systems.
Authorities highlighted that the scheme represented a continuous loop where U.S. currency flowed north to south while peso-based settlements were completed in Colombia. The arrangements mirrored practices commonly associated with informal value transfer systems, although conducted with the use of regulated bank accounts. Court records show that the network laundered at least $1.2 million over an eight-month period, an amount consistent with repeated cycles of bulk cash movement and structured banking activity. The FBI reported that the coordinated nature of the operation revealed a sophisticated approach to concealment rather than sporadic individual actions.
Operational structure and financial flows
Evidence presented in court showed that Nunez Daza directed a structured method for moving deposits through accounts designed to obscure ownership. These accounts allowed the organization to introduce bulk cash into the banking sector without linking it to the individuals who controlled the funds. The approach depended on intermediaries who provided access to their accounts or incorporated entities that stood in as nominal holders.
After placement into the U.S. financial system, the funds were subjected to rapid transfers that created layers disguising the source of the money. Transfer chains between accounts in different jurisdictions supported the appearance of business-related activity, although the funds originated from drug trafficking proceeds. Court filings stated that the movement of funds back to Colombia completed the cycle by providing traffickers with local currency payouts.
The organizational hierarchy placed Nunez Daza at the center of coordination. He arranged pickups, supervised couriers, and directed the timing of transfers. The quick turnaround between cash deliveries and peso settlements indicated that the network had access to liquidity channels that operated outside the scope of regulated exchange mechanisms. The structure allowed Mexico-based partners to recycle U.S. currency while receiving local currency in Colombia within short time frames.
The fact pattern also underscores how bulk cash continues to support cross-border laundering strategies when traffickers seek methods that do not rely on digital transfers alone. The reliance on bulk movement of physical cash created challenges for detection, particularly when combined with rapid deposit cycles and the use of seemingly unrelated bank accounts.
Enforcement actions and legal outcome
The case progressed through indictment, extradition, and sentencing over a period of years. Court records confirm that Nunez Daza was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was deported from the United States in 2004. He later became the target of an investigation that traced funds transported from Mexico into U.S. cities, eventually leading to a federal indictment in January 2023.
Authorities in Colombia located and arrested him based on a U.S. request, and his extradition to the United States took place in April 2025. The Justice Department reported coordinated efforts between U.S. investigators, law enforcement partners in Colombia, and the Office of International Affairs. These efforts focused on bringing the leader of the laundering network under U.S. jurisdiction to face the charges.
Nunez Daza pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of money laundering conspiracy, which aligned with the evidence showing his role in directing an organization that moved drug proceeds through U.S. accounts. The sentence of 60 months, combined with a forfeiture order of $1.2 million, marks the final stage of a case that demonstrates how transnational laundering tools have persisted alongside evolving compliance expectations.
The Justice Department considers the case part of a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing cross-border criminal financing that supports drug trafficking organizations. The FBI noted that such laundering networks rely on deceptive layers to disguise transactions and that the exposure of this network removed an important channel for drug-derived proceeds.
Broader implications for financial crime controls
The case provides a clear example of how bulk cash combined with structured account activity can penetrate the banking system if oversight gaps exist. Detection depends heavily on recognizing the use of unrelated accounts and rapid fund transfers that lack a legitimate economic purpose. The repeated delivery of corresponding funds in Colombia within days shows how parallel market systems can operate at high speed to obscure the origin of assets.
Financial institutions face increased expectations to detect patterns associated with bulk cash introductions, especially when combined with transfers to high-risk jurisdictions. The operation directed by Nunez Daza demonstrates the significance of monitoring for accounts used by individuals or companies without a corresponding business rationale. It also reinforces the need for improved coordination between jurisdictions when transactions involve rapid cross-border settlement.
The sentencing underscores how a structured network can move substantial sums through legitimate institutions while attempting to distance traffickers from the funds. The legal outcome provides a reference point for policymakers and compliance teams reviewing typologies connected to cash-based laundering cycles. The evidence from the case also shows that enforcement bodies continue to prioritize investigations targeting individuals who coordinate complex laundering systems rather than only focusing on couriers or intermediaries.
Key Points
• Network laundered drug trafficking proceeds through bulk cash pickups and structured deposits
• At least 1.2 million dollars moved through accounts under the names of other individuals and companies
• Funds cycled from Mexican traffickers to U.S. accounts, then back to Colombia as peso deliveries
• Nunez Daza was extradited in 2025 and sentenced to five years after a guilty plea
• Case reflects vulnerabilities in detecting rapid cross-border fund movements
Related Links
- U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division
- FBI Money Laundering Investigations
- U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida
- U.S. Department of Justice Press Room
Other FinCrime Central Articles About Drug-Money Laundering
- Cuban-Led Network Faces 200 Years for Drug Money Laundering in Spain
- How Money Laundering and Fraud Unravelled a Canadian Drug Network
- 3 Charged in South Carolina Money Laundering Scheme Involving Millions in Drug Profits
- How UK Drug Dealers Launched Their Own Cryptocurrency to Launder Money
Source: US DOJ
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