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“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
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As part of a joint agency and international operation, Mexico’s FGR, SSPC, GN, SEMAR and the Army carried out four raids on homes and properties in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, related to “a former Olympic athlete and one of the 10 most wanted fugitives by U.S. authorities.”
Doses of methamphetamine and marijuana, 62 high-end motorcycles, two vehicles, works of art, two Olympic medals, ammunition and various documents were found.
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Authorities say they identified four properties in Mexico City and nearby around Mexico State, where they seized 62 motorcycles, two Olympic medals, weapon ammunition, artwork and various documents. Police also seized small doses of methamphetamine and cannabis at the properties.
A CBC review of public records found Daniela Alejandra Acuna Macias, named by U.S. authorities as Wedding’s Colombian-born girlfriend, has an address listed in the area, just beyond the western part of Mexico City.
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Last month, the FBI in Miami seized an ultra-rare Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster, estimated to be worth $13 million. A CBC News investigation found the car had been purchased by Rolan Sokolovski, the Toronto jeweller sanctioned by U.S. authorities as one of Wedding’s chief money launderers.
The bill of sale lists two exotic car dealerships, based in Missouri and Florida, as being involved in the deal. With a $2-million deposit from Sokolovski, the Mercedes was to be delivered to Curated Vintage Supercars in Miami and kept there until the remainder of the $11.9-million purchase price was “paid in full.”
Later that month on its Facebook page, Curated heralded the CLK-GTR as part of “possibly the most epic arrival in the history” of the dealership. In a video posted online, Hershel Zelcer, a representative for the Miami dealership, said that Roadster, number 5 of the 6 ever made, had belonged to the royal family of Abu Dhabi. He claimed the company had sourced the car for Drake, but ultimately the deal with the Canadian hip-hop star ultimately fell through.
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According to the US Treasury, Sokolovski acted alongside former Italian special forces member Gianluca Tiepolo as the network’s chief money launderers. Tiepolo allegedly held millions of dollars’ worth of Wedding’s property under his own name, while operating luxury car and motorcycle businesses out of Italy and England.
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Sokolovski made millions of dollars’ worth of monthly vehicle payments to Tiepolo on behalf of Wedding, according to documents filed in an Ontario court.
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Tiepolo also founded Windrose Tactical Academy/Solutions, which provided “military-style tactical training” for Wedding’s hitmen, the U.S. Treasury said in a statement last month.
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Canadian Cocaine Lawyer Out on $5 million Bail
An Ontario Superior Court judge has granted bail to the Toronto-area criminal lawyer facing U.S. extradition on charges that he helped plot the murder of a government witness against Wedding’s cocaine-trafficking organization.
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