A US Grand Jury has agreed to prefer charges against two local businessmen, reported financiers of the United National Congress (UNC), as a result of an investigation by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office of the Homeland Security Department into a money laundering and drug trafficking network.

The indictment alleged that the billion dollar local airport project was used as a money laundering vehicle for the laundering of proceeds of drug-trafficking by the Vargas Cartel in Colombia.

It is understood that the US authorities paid for the air passage and accommodation for 14 TT nationals to go to the US to testify before the Grand Jury in this matter.

The two businessmen could go willingly to the US to face the charges, or if not, they could be extradited once the US authorities file the appropriate documents.

The Americans are investigating reports that some US$30 million was allegedly laundered out of the Piarco Airport project through the US and international bank accounts of Calmaquip. Calmaquip is one of the companies involved in the Airport project. The US is also investigating another report that Calmaquip may have defrauded ten Florida banks of US$23 million during a certain period.

The two local businessmen are among persons charged with corruption arising out of the Piarco project.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/stories.php?article_id=31223