The U.S. Treasury Department’s crackdown on Mexican drug trafficking finances has now expanded to include a network of luxury restaurants and casinos in Mexico. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced Thursday that, in a joint operation with Mexico, it has sanctioned 27 companies accused of allegedly laundering money on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel. In the crosshairs are businesses owned by the Hysa group in Mexico, Canada, and Poland, as well as a dozen betting houses in the Mexican states of Sinaloa, Tabasco, Baja California, and Sonora.
“The United States and Mexico are working together to combat money laundering in Mexico’s gambling sector. Our message to those supporting the cartels is clear: You will be held accountable,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley, in a written statement.
On Thursday, OFAC sanctioned 27 individuals and entities, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed a special measure to restrict access to the U.S. financial system for 10 Mexico-based gaming establishments due to money-laundering concerns. The U.S. sanctions were announced a day after the Mexican government froze the bank accounts of 13 betting houses in Mexico over alleged money laundering and ties to organized crime.
U.S. investigators report that the Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOCG) has used its influence — through investments or control over various Mexico-based businesses, including casinos and restaurants — to launder drug trafficking proceeds. “The HOCG is believed to operate with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel, which maintains criminal control over much of the territory where the group conducts its activities,” the Treasury report states.
Among the Hysa-controlled companies financially sanctioned by the U.S. are Bliri; Cucina Del Porto; Diversiones Los Mochis; El Arte de Cocinas y Beber; Entretenimiento Villahermosa; Entretenimiento Y Espectáculos; Grupo Internacional Canhysamex; H Hidrocarburos Hysa Forwarders; LH Pro-Gaming; Procesadora de Alimentos Hs; Rosetta Gaming; Hysa Holdings, and others.
The U.S. notes that as a result of the Hysa group sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals located in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entity that is owned, directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons is also blocked.
In parallel, the Treasury Department accused a dozen Mexican casinos of allegedly laundering money for the Sinaloa Cartel. The sanctioned betting houses are located in Sinaloa, Baja California, Tabasco, and Sonora. Notable names include the Midas, Eminem Mirage, Skampa, and Palermo casinos, among others.
U.S. authorities also proposed that these casinos face a special measure that would “prohibit covered financial institutions from opening or maintaining a correspondent account for any foreign banking institution if such account is used to process transactions involving any of the gambling establishments.”
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