Renowned Colombian horse breeder is arrested for leading money laundering gang that provided its services to the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel - Mexico's top two drug trafficking organizations
A horse breeder who reportedly moonlighted as the leader of a criminal gang linked to Mexico's top two drug cartels was arrested in Colombia on Monday.
Néstor Tarazona Enciso, 56, was taken into custody by the Colombia National Police on Sunday in Pereira, the capital of central western state of Risaralda.
Authorities said he was wanted for 'money laundering and illicit enrichment' activities that were the byproduct of his role as the leader a gang known as 'Los Puntilleros.'
It loaned its services to the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel - two transnational criminal organizations which are at war which each other over drug smuggling routes to the United States.
Renown Colombian horse breeder Néstor Tarazona Enciso was arrested in Pereira, Colombia, on Monday. Authorities allege he oversaw a gang that provided its services to the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel - Mexico's top two drug trafficking organizations
In December 2009, the United States Department of Treasury sanctioned Néstor Tarazona Enciso under the Kingpin Act, and accused him of proving 'material support' to JoaquÃn 'El Chapo' Guzmán's Sinaloa Cartel
Tarazona Enciso served a lengthy prison sentence in the United States for cocaine trafficking and was deported to Colombia in 1995.
In December 2009, the United States Department of Treasury sanctioned him under the Kingpin Act, and accused him of proving 'material support' to JoaquÃn 'El Chapo' Guzmán's Sinaloa Cartel.
Colombian authorities argue that Néstor Tarazona Enciso kept a low profile in Colombia by breeding fine step horses and exotic birds.
Colombia authorities have accused Néstor Tarazona Enciso of laundering money for the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel - two transnational criminal organizations which are at war which each other over drug smuggling routes to the United States
His two livestock companies, Agropecuaria La Cruz S.A. and Criadero Las Cabanas Ltda., were also designated by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control because they were reportedly used to launder money for the cartel.
Colombian authorities argue that Tarazona Enciso kept a low profile in Colombia by breeding fine step horses and exotic birds.
He reportedly increased his illicit net worth to over $4million since 1999.
Tarazona Enciso allegedly cut ties with El Chapo following his arrest in February 2014 and provided his gang's helping hand to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.