Feds Uncover Global Money Laundering Network Tied to Sinaloa Cartel, Syrian Regime, and Colombian Guerrillas

A newly unsealed federal indictment reveals the outlines of a sophisticated international money laundering network allegedly linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, with operations spanning multiple continents and intersecting with armed groups and corrupt state actors.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, the case charges three men—Wisam Nagib Kherfan-Okde, Antoine “Tony” Kassis, and Alirio Rafael Quintero-Quintero—with laundering millions in drug proceeds through a web of aliases, crypto transactions, and illicit exchanges of cash, cocaine, and weapons.

According to court documents, Kassis, also known as Tony, is described as a drug trafficker based in Lebanon with ties to the Syrian government. He allegedly facilitated narcotics trafficking and partnered with Kherfan, accused of leading a money laundering organization that operated across borders. Together, they are said to have received and distributed cryptocurrency transfers, coordinated large-scale cash drops—including in Africa—and dealt with individuals believed to be pilots ferrying drugs and weapons.

Meanwhile, Quintero—known by multiple aliases including Fakir—is accused of laundering funds for Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) and converting drug money into cryptocurrency using third-party accounts. His base of operations spanned both Mexico and Colombia, and prosecutors claim he moved substantial sums between the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel. The indictment, dated March 2025, notes his role in laundering “multi-million-dollar” narcotics profits.

The case also outlines an alleged arms-for-drugs scheme: as early as April 2024, the trio reportedly coordinated the delivery of military-grade weapons—sourced from Syria—to the ELN in exchange for cocaine, deepening the convergence between organized crime and militant networks.

The charges arrive against the backdrop of a growing global footprint for the Sinaloa Cartel. According to the DEA, the cartel now operates in roughly 40 countries, with recent activity—including a 16-person drug trafficking arrest in France—highlighting its expansive and evolving tactics.