Swiss confiscate US$3 million from U.S. drug crimes

The Associated Press
Published: December 20, 2006

Swiss authorities have confiscated about US$3 million (€2.3 million) from bank accounts owned by three U.S. citizens convicted of drug dealing and money laundering, a magistrate said Wednesday.

The money had been deposited in a bank in Lausanne by the three, two of whom were convicted in the U.S. for cocaine dealing, and the third for money laundering in Switzerland, magistrate Jacques Antenen said in a statement.

Antenen did not identify the Americans, but said the leader of the group, a professional pilot, is serving a life sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of cocaine trafficking.

Antenen seized 400,000 francs (US$328,100; €249,354.01) from the bank account of the second man, who U.S. authorities said was the radio communicator in the drugs operations.

A final confiscation order was issued two weeks ago when Antenen directed the seizure of more than US$1.2 million (€910,000) from the third man — a U.S. citizen of Cuban origin — whom Swiss authorities found guilty of money laundering.

Swiss legal proceedings started in 1994 following a U.S. request.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/20/europe/EU_GEN_Switzerland_Drug_Money.php