Brothers Nabbed In Undercover Drug Money Laundering Operation

BOSTON, MA — Two foreign national brothers were charged Friday in federal court in Boston with laundering money from an undercover agent that they believed to be drug sale proceeds, the Department of Justice said.

Essam Sakkal, 39, a/k/a Issam Sakkal, a/k/a Esam Bzoul, a national of Cyprus, who is in U.S. custody, and his brother, Nabeel Sakkal, 24, a/k/a Traycho Marinov Mitchov, a/k/a Nabil Cieckal, a/k/a Nabil Imadein Bazul Siggal, a dual national of Cyprus and Jordan, who is a fugitive, were charged in an indictment unsealed with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering. The charges carry a maximum jail time of 20 years.

The Sakkals met with a U.S. undercover agent posing as a member of a drug organization who was meant to launder drug money, according to court documents. They allegedly laundered this money multiple times between 2009-14.