Nineteen people are charged with conspiring to launder tens of millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds from the United States to Colombia.

According to indictments unsealed Thursday in federal court in Brooklyn, the alleged scheme began in 2006.

Twelve of the defendants, who allegedly acted as money brokers, were arrested in Colombia. Authorities say they assisted drug trafficking organizations in Colombia by laundering the drug proceeds in the United States. They allegedly operated out of shopping malls in Cali, Colombia.

Four other defendants were arrested Thursday in Queens, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. Three others were already in custody.

Prosecutors say the seven defendants served as go-betweens. They allegedly took the proceeds from narcotics distributors in the U.S. and delivered the money to other members of the organization.

(AP)