Sinaloa Cartel Crypto Laundering Network Dismantled in Cambodia
A joint operation between Cambodian and US anti-drug agencies dismantled a cryptocurrency money laundering network allegedly run on behalf of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, with raids across multiple locations netting $7 million in seized crypto assets.
The operation, conducted from August 1 to August 5, targeted four locations in Phnom Penh and the neighboring Kandal province. Authorities confiscated over 200 kilograms of illegal drugs, more than one metric ton of precursor chemicals, and shut down multiple drug laboratories and storage facilities.
At least six Vietnamese nationals were among those arrested, highlighting the cross-border nature of these networks within Southeast Asia itself. The Sinaloa Cartel has been designated a 'foreign terrorist organization' by the Trump administration, which carries severe legal consequences for anyone providing material support.