“Narco brokers in Mexico, a booming business thriving alongside Chinese money-laundering networks”

Key points

• Bojun He, alias El Chino, was arrested Nov 4 in Mexico City with $2 million and 43 million pesos.
• He is described as the alleged leader of a money-laundering network for organized crime including Unión Tepito.
• Networks connect Mexican cartels with Chinese laundering intermediaries across Mexico City, Tijuana, and Cancún.
• Experts say Chinese intermediaries offer lower laundering costs and cross-border triangulation to move funds.
• authorities cite Fei Qian/Hawala-style transfers and crypto as methods used to launder profits.