A Clayton woman has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering for a Mexican drug cartel that operates in North and South Carolina, officials said Friday.
According to Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, Oralia Rodriguez Flores, 40, endangers people “by trafficking in large quantities of deadly methamphetamine and cocaine,” as well as assisting members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in drug distribution and money laundering.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Flores was delivering drugs to and from South Carolina consumers. The inquiry indicated that she was selling cocaine at $22,000 per kilogram.
During an interview, she admitted to being involved in narcotics trafficking for three years.
“She stated that she met drivers of 18-wheeler trucks five or six times to pick up cocaine from Mexico. The news statement stated that each shipment included around 10 kg of cocaine. “Flores also said that her source of supply in Mexico sent the methamphetamine she distributed from Mexico to California, and then it was mailed to South Carolina.”
Flores allegedly admitted to paying more than $1 million in cash to commercial truck drivers and sending narcotics proceeds to runners for an Asian money laundering network that was routed to Mexico, according to authorities. She used money transfer services to send money to Mexico.
Flores will face charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. When sentenced, she could face up to life in jail.
The IRS-Criminal probe and the Drug Enforcement Administration are conducting the probe.
