Drug cartels from Mexico and Colombia are increasingly using bitcoin to distribute illicit substances and legalize the proceeds. This was reported by the specialized department of the UN.

According to the UN drug control agency, Mexico's largest criminal organization Sinaloa, as well as its main competitor, the recently formed New Generation Cartel Jalisco, are actively using BTC for illegal transactions.

An analysis of criminal activity in Mexico found that about $25 billion has already been laundered through digital assets. Comparable values are observed in Colombia, where local drug cartels have also begun to favor cryptocurrencies. The advantages of this instrument of financial transactions full anonymity and the absence of any barriers hindering the transfer of funds.

Experts told that the heads of criminal groups divide the proceeds from the sale of drugs into many parts. Then, these small amounts are invested in bitcoin. In this way, drug traffickers are able to hide the origin of the money and make safe payments to foreign partners.