Iraklis Haviaropoulos orchestrated a sprawling transnational drug and money laundering operation that funneled over 300 kilograms of cocaine from Peru through Mexico and into Canada, with major routes cutting through Upstate New York. Between August 2014 and March 30, 2016, the Montreal-based trafficker used pilots, truck drivers, and cash couriers to move narcotics and illicit profits across continents, leaving a trail of addiction and criminal enterprise in his wake.
Haviaropoulos sourced cocaine from Carlos Alberto Ocampo Garcia in Piura, Peru, where clandestine airstrips served as launch points for flights to Guatemala and then Mexico. From there, truck drivers smuggled the drugs across the U.S. border before delivering them into Quebec. Some shipments passed directly through the Northern District of New York. Seized during the investigation: more than 337 kilograms of cocaine, along with fentanyl and marijuana—quantities that point to industrial-scale distribution.
The operation’s financial engine was just as vast. The group collected cash from marijuana sales in the U.S. and cocaine sales in Canada, funneling the proceeds through couriers in Albany County, Ulster County, and Montreal. At least $1 million was wired to suppliers in Chicago, Los Angeles, Peru, Colombia, and even China. Investigators seized over $1 million in illicit funds, exposing a global financial network built on narcotics.
Haviaropoulos wasn’t acting alone. Five men have now pled guilty, confirming their roles in the conspiracy. Their admissions detail a criminal enterprise that spanned hemispheres, leveraging corruption, secrecy, and violence to sustain its operations. The use of aviation, cross-border smuggling, and layered money movements underscore the sophistication federal agents faced.
‘This sophisticated organization, which used transnational networks to move huge amounts of cocaine and illegal money through our communities, has now been dismantled,’ said U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith. ‘We will use all of our resources to pursue foreign-based drug traffickers and bring them to justice.’ The takedown highlights deep collaboration between U.S. and Canadian authorities, as well as interagency coordination on intelligence and enforcement.
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt emphasized the human cost: ‘Law enforcement is committed to identifying, arresting and prosecuting those whose criminal actions enable drug addiction and inevitable drug overdoses.’ IRS-CI and HSI leaders echoed the sentiment, stressing financial disruption and international cooperation as key tools. The case stands as a stark reminder: no matter how far the supply chain stretches, the reach of federal justice stretches farther.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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