'Essentially unstoppable': How tobacco cartels funnel cash offshore

Key points

• Law enforcement sources allege a money laundering network linked to major tobacco cartels has moved tens of millions of dollars overseas. Sources say the network used private ATMs, payment platforms and hawala money transfer dealers.
• Authorities allege the cartels were led by Kazem Hamad, who is serving a life sentence in Iraq. A man described as a bagman was charged after millions of dollars were found in his hire car.
• He pleaded guilty to dealing with the proceeds of crime.