Three Colombian nationals have been indicted in the United States on charges of narcotics trafficking and laundering $3 million in drug proceeds through U.S. banks.
U.S. justice officials said in a statement Monday that the 49-count indictment accuses the men of laundering the proceeds to promote cocaine distribution rings in Colombia, Europe and Mexico.
The statement also says the indictment, unsealed in Florida, alleges the defendants conspired to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
The defendants face a maximum life sentence if convicted on the narcotics charges and up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of money laundering.
The men were arrested last week in Bogota, Colombia. U.S. authorities have not yet filed a request for their extradition.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.