The Treasury Department is set to impose sanctions on individuals and entities tied to a violent Mexican drug cartel, targeting their fuel theft operations which generate millions of dollars for the cartel and fuel their fentanyl trafficking activities. This move, coordinated with the DEA and Mexican authorities, aims to disrupt the funding and operations of these cartels responsible for the deadly drug crisis in the U.S.
The European Union has fined International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) €15.9 million for obstructing a cartel probe after an employee deleted WhatsApp messages. The company deleted the messages after being notified of an inspection, but later helped recover the data. The EU’s antitrust regulator is investigating several fragrance companies, including IFF, for suspected price fixing.
Karim Bouyakhrichan, one of Europe’s most wanted criminals and alleged leader of the Mocro Maffia, was inadvertently released from a Spanish prison owing to a judicial mix-up. After a five-year money laundering investigation, Bouyakhrichan was detained by police in January. Despite a request from the Dutch government, the 46-year-old known as “Taxi” was released due to confusion and has since vanished. The Mocro Maffia is one of Europe’s largest cocaine trafficking syndicates, thought to have smuggled billions of euros worth of drugs in the last 15 years. They are also accused of money laundering operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Morocco. Authorities arrested Bouyakhrichan and five other individuals, accusing him of purchasing 172 properties in Spain worth over €50 million ($53.4 million). Although the Dutch authorities requested Bouyakhrichan’s extradition to face drug trafficking charges, the Málaga court denied it, claiming jurisdiction over his arrest location. They maintained that he must first face money laundering charges in Spain. Bouyakhrichan’s release has prompted concern and efforts to apprehend him for his alleged involvement in a drug war that has claimed numerous lives across Europe and North Africa.
