Prosecutors In U.S., Mexico To Combat Money Laundering

By JACQUES BILLEAUD Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX(AP) – Mexican law enforcement officials say they will focus more on combatting money laundering by drug and immigrant smugglers who wire their illegal proceeds into the country from the U.S.

American and Mexican prosecutors meeting this week in Phoenix agreed that Mexican authorities will use investigative techniques developed in Arizona to pursue cash generated by the smuggling operations.

Arizona authorities credit their monitoring of wire transfers for disrupting smuggling networks. A state court threw out their approach, and authorities say the money is still being wired from other states to northern Mexico.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)