Bogota, May 12 (EFE).- The criminal gang Clan Usuga used churches in Choco and Antioquia departments to launder money, Colombia's Office of the Attorney General alleges.
The prosecutor's coordinator for organized crime, Alvaro Sarmiento, said Monday that a bishop and a pastor sending money to Central America through an NGO were arrested in an operation to disrupt the finances of the gang.
"They raised money from parishioners, but also helped the criminal organization Usuga to export money," Sarmiento told reporters in Bogota.
The official said the pastor had been commissioned to ship approximately $420,000 to the Dominican Republic on behalf of the organization, to buy goods to launder income from drug trafficking.
Two women were also arrested, including a sister-in-law of Dario Usuga, head of Clan Usuga, who will be charged with extortion, criminal conspiracy and asset laundering.
The Colombian government announced last March a reward of $635,000 for information leading to the capture of Dario Usuga.
