
DEA Crackdown in South Carolina Uncovers Multi-Year Money Laundering Operation Tied to Mexican Drug Cartels
By James Seidel | CC News Network
SUMTER, S.C. — A multi-year investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has resulted in the arrests of four suspects in Sumter, South Carolina, who are accused of laundering money for two of Mexico’s most dominant drug cartels—the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG).
Working in conjunction with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the DEA’s investigation targeted international and domestic money laundering operations that funneled cartel proceeds through businesses and financial channels in South Carolina and Georgia.
Early Morning Raids Lead to Arrests
On Jan. 23, authorities executed coordinated search and arrest warrants at multiple locations in Sumter County, including two businesses on Broad Street and residences on Rhododendron Street and Currituck Drive. The operation resulted in the arrests of:
- Caspin Powers Adachi, 23
- Fnu Naimullah, 32
- Nasir Ullah, 27

Simultaneously, law enforcement officials in Richland County arrested an additional suspect on money laundering charges, while in Gwinnett County, Georgia, authorities took Chinese national Puquan Huang into custody. Huang remains jailed in Georgia, awaiting extradition to South Carolina.
Authorities believe the suspects worked directly with cartel-affiliated Chinese money launderers operating in Georgia and South Carolina and have been engaged in these activities for several years.
International Fugitive Still at Large
Law enforcement officials have also identified Mohammad Azam Khan, father of two of the suspects, as an active fugitive. Authorities believe he fled to Dubai to evade arrest.
Prior Money Smuggling Attempts
Investigators revealed that Ullah is facing additional charges in Richland County after an October 2024 arrest, where he was caught attempting to smuggle approximately $180,000.
Bond Hearings and Release
Despite the severity of the charges, all three South Carolina suspects met bond requirements and were released from custody:
- Adachi and Ullah posted $20,000 surety bonds
- Naimullah posted a $200,000 bond
The Cartels Behind the Operation
The Sinaloa Cartel—one of the world’s most powerful criminal organizations—is largely responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl into the United States, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
The CJNG, regarded by the Justice Department as one of the five most dangerous transnational criminal organizations in the world, is notorious for its large-scale trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl-laced heroin, as well as for its brutal violence in Mexico.
Escalating Cartel Operations in the U.S.
The arrests in South Carolina highlight the expanding influence of cartel-linked money laundering networks in the southeastern United States, a growing concern for law enforcement as drug-related deaths and cartel-fueled violence continue to rise nationwide.
CC News Network will continue to follow this case and provide updates as new details emerge.
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