COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – Three people accused of laundering tens of millions of dollars in illicit drug money through South Carolina are now facing federal charges.

28-year-old Nasir Ullah, 34-year-old Naim Ullah, and 49-year-old Puquan Huang were indicted on federal charges in what prosecutors called “one of the largest professional money laundering operations” in state history.

“They offered their services to drug dealers across the southeast from whom they would purchase large amounts of cash,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Brook Andrews. “They would then use those drug proceeds to purchase and ship electronics to destinations in China and the Middle East, and use those transactions to conceal the illegal source of their funds.”

The defendants collected drug money from Charleston, Richland, Sumter, and York counties and stored it in two business properties in Sumter County. More than $30 million was successfully laundered through this scheme, Andrews said.

The three individuals were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Federal court records show both Ullahs pleaded not guilty to the charges and were each given a $25,000 bond during an April 23 hearing. Information regarding Huang was not immediately available.

“Money laundering is the backbone of criminal enterprise,” said Andrews. “It enables drug trafficking organizations to purchase and distribute fentanyl and other drugs to devastating effect. When we target those who launder drug money, we strike at the very heart of these operations.”

“Money laundering is the backbone of criminal enterprise. It enables drug trafficking organizations to purchase and distribute fentanyl and other drugs to devastating effect. When we target those who launder drug money, we strike at the very heart of these operations.”

The scheme was uncovered through an ongoing investigation into the leadership elements of two Mexican drug cartels, which began in September 2024.

“Over the course of this investigation, agents identified a large scale and complex money laundering network operating throughout South Carolina and elsewhere to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds which have been traced to the sale of multi kilogram quantities of both fentanyl and cocaine, as well as both marijuana and heroin,” said Mike Tooley, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge.

The illegal operation began in April 2019 and continued through at least November 2024, according to a copy of the federal indictments.

This story is breaking and may be updated.