$2.4 Million Intercepted : 4 Accused of Plot to Launder Drug Profits

Four Israelis have been charged with trying to send at least $2.4 million from illicit drug sales to a bank in Panama, the U. S. Customs Service said Friday.

The two men and two women, all San Fernando Valley residents, were arrested Thursday after an investigation that began when customs officers discovered a package of 32 checks totaling $284,880 during an inspection of packages at Los Angeles International Airport on Sept. 15.

Charged with conspiracy and attempting to evade money-reporting laws were Abraham Zarchia, 38, of Sherman Oaks; Yona Kleinzahler, 33, of Canoga Park; and a married couple from North Hollywood, Izhak Edri and Rivka Edri, both 36. The charges carry terms of up to 10 years in prison and $500,000 in fines, Customs Agent Joseph Charles said.

The four suspects were arraigned Friday in U. S. District Court in Los Angeles and were being held without bail in Terminal Island federal prison. Charles said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are possible.

Charles said the Israelis were arrested at their homes and five vehicles used in the money-laundering operation were confiscated. The four entered the country legally 18 months ago, but the temporary visas of three had expired and the temporary visa of the fourth was about to expire, Charles said.

Customs agents are empowered to check packages mailed abroad and are watchful of packages sent to countries with bank-secrecy laws, such as Panama, Charles said.

The first package of checks was dropped off at a Federal Express office in Encino, destined for a Clara Garcia at a Panama City address, Charles said. The intended receiver was really the Banco de Occidente and the return address--the Iveco Co. Ltd. of 12120 Riverside Drive in North Hollywood--turned out to be a vacant lot, Charles said.

Gerita Hinkel, a Customs Service spokesman, said the checks were in amounts small enough to avoid federal reporting requirements for checks of at least $10,000. “However,” she said, “they happened to have stacks of them.”

Customs officers continued to intercept packages that were usually left at a Federal Express office in Encino by Izhak or Rivka Edri, Charles said.

All told, investigators found 200 checks totaling $2.3 million.