(Zero Hedge) Instead of fighting cartel criminals in Colombia, one US narcotics agent has been implicated in a multi-million dollar money laundering scheme involving them. Jose Irizarry, a once heralded DEA agent, is now accused of conspiring with an informant to launder more than $7 million in drug money, sometimes using an underground network called the black market peso exchange, according to a new report by AP.
Related New WikiLeaks Release Exposes Corruption In UAE Arms Deal Fueling War On Yemen
by Staff Writer, January 17th, 2019
Officials who spoke about the case called it “one of the biggest black eyes in the history of the DEA”, which has been plagued with scandals over the last few years. They also believe that the case could compromise undercover operations that are ongoing in South America and in the United States.
Not only did the scheme benefit Irizarry, but it is also believed to have worked to the benefit of a top money launderer in South America, who is also a relative of Irizarry’s. The DEA’s Colombia office continues to draw scrutiny and has fallen deeper in turmoil as a result, even though Colombia is producing record high levels of cocaine. Some of the details emerged when a former DEA informant pled guilty to money laundering. That case referred to an “unnamed co-conspirator” who turned out to be Irizarry.
Buy Book Poison Spring: The Secret History of Pollution and the EPA
It’s currently unknown where Irizarry is living or whether not he’s been charged in the ongoing criminal probe. A former attorney that represented him in a bankruptcy case provided no comment to AP and a Miami defense attorney who also represented him once did not return comment.
Irizarry had resigned from the DEA after he was recalled from Colombia to Washington in 2017.
The controversy has raised new questions about DEA screening practices and how it hires. Irizarry was hired despite the fact that he showed signs of deception during a polygraph exam and he was permitted to handle financial transactions in his role despite filing for bankruptcy in 2010 with over $500,000 in debt.
Prior to his scheme being uncovered, he was known as a model agent who often won the praise of his supervisors. He was initially based out of Miami before he won special permission to set up an undercover operation to send money and ship contraband to Colombia using front companies. His investigations helped lead to numerous arrests and earned him his transfer to the much coveted location of Colombia, where his offices were in the resort city of Cartagena.
“He was the superstar everyone wanted to be,” one former law enforcement official told AP.
Buy Book Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science
In Gustavo Yabrudi’s case – Irizarry’s informant – Yabrudi testified that he knew money he was giving Irizarry was for him acting outside of the scope of his authority as a DEA agent. His lawyer described the case as involving “serious corruption” by a DEA agent.
It was also said that at times, Irizarry faked DEA seizure orders to pocket money. His clients often chalked up the losses to the normal course of business in money laundering. And Irizarry started to embrace the lifestyle of the drug traffickers that he was supposed to be busting. He bought a home and a Land Rover in Colombia, he often traveled first class to Europe with Louis Vuitton luggage and he reportedly hosted yacht parties with bikini clad prostitutes, where fellow DEA agents and at least one supervisor were said to have attended.
This all, of course, despite the fact of the DEA banned these types of gatherings after the 2015 sex party scandal that prompted the retirement of the agency’s administrator at the time.
Buy Book The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water and the American Urban Tragedy
Stillness in the Storm Editor: Why did we post this?
Corruption is endemic to our world. Organizations that gain the trust of the people misuse that trust and are rarely brought to justice. The people have a valid right to know of the activities of its public servants so as to dethrone them once malfeasance or wrongdoing has been identified. The preceding article highlights corruption within public service institutions, revealing a breach of trust with respect to their lawful mandate to occupy said office. It is critically important for the evolution of society that individuals become aware of corruption, so as to unite together and declare grievances in an effort to correct the situation. When those grievances aren’t recognized by those in office, the people now have a valid right to remove the lawless individuals in these positions of power so as to restore law and order. All of this can only be possible individuals to gain awareness of the corruption at hand and begin the process of forming actions groups capable of issuing lawful rebukes. If done properly, the forces that oversee the realms of men will rally to support the people.
– Justin
Not sure how to make sense of this? Want to learn how to discern like a pro? Read this essential guide to discernment, analysis of claims, and understanding the truth in a world of deception: 4 Key Steps of Discernment – Advanced Truth-Seeking Tools.
Stillness in the Storm Editor’s note: Did you find a spelling error or grammar mistake? Send an email to [email protected], with the error and suggested correction, along with the headline and url. Do you think this article needs an update? Or do you just have some feedback? Send us an email at [email protected]. Thank you for reading.
Source:
Leave a Reply