Freight Forwarding Executive Indicted for Helping CJNG Smuggle Billions Across the US Mexico Border

A federal grand jury in the Central District of California has indicted Ralph Olarte the Chief Financial Officer of Sport LA Inc and Humberto Lopez Belmonte for orchestrating a massive customs fraud scheme justice.gov.
From at least 2013 to the present their companies allegedly smuggled billions of dollars worth of goods from the United States into Mexico using shell companies false export paperwork and bribery.
The scheme involved paying kickbacks to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel CJNG one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations.
The defendants are also charged with money laundering by funneling proceeds through shell entities concealing relationships with real Mexican customers and moving illicit funds back into United States bank accounts.

Why it matters
This case shows how cartel networks are deeply integrated into cross border commerce using legitimate looking businesses in freight forwarding shipping and trade to move contraband evade customs duties and launder massive sums. Institutions involved in international trade customs logistics or supply chain financing face exposure even when the front appears legitimate.

How OGA Can Help
Obsidian Group Analytics uncovers hidden financial and corporate relationships that enable cross-border fraud.
We analyze public records, trade filings, and customs data to spot patterns of suspicious exports and false documentation.
Our team maps corporate ownership to reveal the real beneficiaries behind freight forwarders or logistics companies that may be acting as cartel fronts.
We track financial flows and transactional anomalies to identify potential money laundering and trade-based fraud.
We provide tailored risk assessments and ongoing monitoring to help clients strengthen compliance and avoid exposure to cartel-linked operations.