US shares forfeited criminal funds with Bonaire

WASHINGTON, CMC – The United States on Friday said it has shared over US$300,000 in forfeited criminal assets with Bonaire, in recognition of the Dutch Caribbean island's assistance to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The Justice Department said the island assisted the DEA in its investigation of the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business that was active in the black market for exchanging Venezuelan bolivars for US dollars.

“This transfer marks the first international sharing of forfeited assets involving the governments of the United States and Bonaire. Bonaire's Public Prosecutors Office intends to use the funds to support ongoing criminal justice efforts,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

It said the US$300,921.09 transferred are a share of net assets forfeited by US authorities from an investigation into the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business run by Hjalmar Gibelli Gomez.

A US law enforcement investigation revealed that Gibelli was engaging in unlicensed money transmitting through his business, a Venezuelan insurance agency called Resguardo Sociedad de Corretahe.

The unlicensed money transmitting business exchanged Venezuelan bolivars for US dollars on a black market currency exchange in violation of US law. The funds were used to promote Gibelli's illegal money transmitting business and were utilised in money laundering transactions.

The Justice Department said as part of his illegal scheme, Gibelli transferred US$2,486,525 from the scheme to purchase a luxury yacht named the “Navigante,” among other transactions.

On December, 22, 2017, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri filed a civil forfeiture complaint against the yacht and other assets held by Gibelli.

“As described in court documents, the yacht is subject to forfeiture as property involved in a transaction or attempted transaction in violation of US money laundering statutes, or as property traceable to such property.

“Bonaire authorities provided important law enforcement assistance in the seizure and forfeiture by restraining the Navigante in their territory, safely offloading the yacht's crew, and assisting in the yacht's transfer to the United States. Gibelli consented to the forfeiture of the Navigante and other property,” the Justice Department added.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.