Criminal charges have been filed against Colombian mobsters with Israeli connections.

United States authorities have placed 31 people on watch-list for alleged participation in a million-dollar money laundering network – with connections to bank accounts in Israel, China, Mexico and the Cayman Islands.

Colombian national Isaac Perez Guberek Ravinovicz and his son Henry Guberek Grimberg (a dual Israeli and Colombian citizen) have been placed on the list of suspected drug traffickers – the “Kingpin List”.

Criminal charges have been filed against the men “for their participation in an international money laundering conspiracy in which they laundered millions of dollars for transnational drug trafficking organisations,” said a spokesperson for the US Department of the Treasury.

The US Treasury has accused the father and son of using shell companies based in Panama and Israel.

Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said: “Money laundering is the lifeblood of the narcotics trafficking world.

“Our action against this major money laundering network strikes a powerful blow at the illicit profits flows of criminals.”