Business associates arrested in California over marijuana murder-for-hire plot

Three California cannabis business insiders have been arrested and charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and assassinate a fourth business associate in a cannabis deal gone sour.

The defendants – Salam Razuki, Sylvia Gonzales and Elizabeth Juarez – were arrested last month and charged after the three allegedly tried to have an unidentified business colleague “whacked” in Mexico, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The three were trying to resolve a business dispute involving roughly $40 million and properties that were intended to be leased out to function as marijuana retail shops, according to the DOJ.

But beginning in October, Razuki, Gonzales and Juarez allegedly attempted to arrange for a business partner – identified by the DOJ only as “N.M.” – to be kidnapped and assassinated in Mexico for $3,000.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported further details about the incident, and the Voice of San Diego obtained the full criminal complaint.