A former senior official of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Paul Campo, has been formally charged by United States federal authorities with collaborating with the Mexican Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a terrorist organization designated by the State Department.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Campo and his associate, Robert Sensi, are alleged to have participated in laundering millions of dollars and financing drug trafficking through cryptocurrencies. They are accused of using cash to purchase about 220 kilograms of cocaine, worth more than $5 million, and to launder at least $750,000 in drug proceeds. In total, they are alleged to have agreed to launder more than $12 million for the cartel.
Investigations reveal that the two met several times with a confidential source of the US authorities, who had infiltrated by posing as a representative of the cartel. On one occasion, Campo even displayed his old DEA badge.
Campo appeared in court, pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody. Both suspects face charges of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, providing material support to a terrorist organization and money laundering. Investigations are ongoing.
