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Mexico drug gang 'used US horse racing as front' | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
US officials say they have dismantled a major money-laundering ring used by Mexico's Zetas drug gang to funnel drug proceeds through American horse racing. | |
Police raided a number of locations including a racetrack in New Mexico. | |
Among several people arrested was Jose Trevino, a brother of a suspected Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino, who has been indicted but remains at large. | |
US authorities say the case shows how Mexican gangs are able to infiltrate legitimate American businesses. | |
Jose Trevino and his wife, Zulema, were arrested at their stables near Lexington, south of Oklahoma City. | |
Federal agents also made arrests in California and Texas, as well as the Ruidoso Downs racetrack in New Mexico. | |
A total of 14 people have been indicted with money-laundering. | |
Prosecutors say Miguel Angel and Jose, along with another brother Oscar Omar, used drugs money to buy American quarter horses, which race over short distances. | |
Top jockeys | |
Some of the horses carried names with drug references, such as Corona Coronita Cartel and Number One Cartel. | Some of the horses carried names with drug references, such as Corona Coronita Cartel and Number One Cartel. |
The company that allegedly acted as a front, Tremor Enterprises, was quite successful with some of its horses winning important races in the US. | |
And success on the track meant that Jose Trevino was able to hire top trainers and jockeys, the New York Times reported. | |
"This case highlights the capacity of Mexican drug gangs "to establish footholds in legitimate US industries," said Richard Weber, chief of the US Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation division. | |
"This attack on the Zetas' most profitable money laundering schemes is an essential front in the war on drugs and will financially disrupt this violent international criminal organisation." | |
The Zetas are one of the most powerful and ruthless drug cartels in Mexico. | The Zetas are one of the most powerful and ruthless drug cartels in Mexico. |
They were formed by deserters from the Mexican special forces and originally worked as hitmen for the Gulf Cartel. | |
Miguel Angel Trevino, known as "Z40", is believed to be a key figure in the organisation. | |
He and Oscar Omar Trevino are thought to be in Mexico. |
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