North Carolina woman pleads guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering for Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico

CLAYTON, N.C. (WTVD) — A Clayton woman pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering for a Mexican drug cartel operating in North and South Carolina. authorities said Friday.

Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy of the DEA Atlanta Division said Oralia Rodriguez Flores, 40, endangered individuals “by trafficking large quantities of lethal methamphetamine and cocaine” and also aided members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). distributing drugs and laundering money.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina, Flores was distributing narcotics to and from customers in South Carolina. The investigation revealed that he sold the cocaine for $22,000 per kilogram.

He admitted in an interview that he had been involved in drug trafficking for three years.

“He explained that he met with 18-wheeler truck drivers five or six times to buy cocaine from Mexico. Each shipment contained approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine,” the news release said. “Flores also said his source of supply in Mexico shipped the methamphetamine he distributed from Mexico to California, which was then mailed to South Carolina.”

Flores also admitted to giving more than $1 million in cash to commercial truck drivers and distributing drug proceeds to smugglers for an Asian money laundering network destined for Mexico, authorities said. He used money service businesses to send money to Mexico.

Flores will be charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to launder money. He faces life imprisonment at sentencing.

The investigation is being conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the DEA.

See relevant court documents and information Here or on PACER Case No. By calling 5:24-CR-252-M.

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