The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced they were partnering with the government of Mexico to target cartel-related money laundering organizations.
The joint operation would focus on the Hysa Organized Crime Group and numerous Mexico-based gambling establishments involved in money laundering and other criminal activities across Europe and Mexico. Officials said the coordinated action is the result of recent U.S.-Mexico commitments secured by Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John Hurley. The partnership will see the United States and Mexico work together to combat narcotrafficking and other financial crimes by Mexico-based drug cartels and other groups.
“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,” Hurley said. “We thank the Government of Mexico for its strong partnership in this effort.”
The OFAC sanctioned 27 individuals and entities, including the Hysa Organized Crime Group and family members Luftar Hysa, Arben Hysa, Ramiz Hysa, Fatos Hysa and Fabjon Hysa, for its suspected money laundering and narcotics trafficking. The Hysa family is believed to operation with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel which maintains criminal control over much of the territory where the group conducts its activities. Additionally, FinCEN proposed measures to sever access by 10 Mexico-based gambling establishments to U.S. financial systems because of money laundering concerns.
With today’s action, OFAC is also targeting several individuals and entities within Hysa network, including Mexico-based Entretenimiento Palmero, S.A. de C.V., owned by Arben, as well as other Hysa-related companies, including Bliri S.A. de C.V., Cucina Del Porto S.A. de C.V, Diversiones Los Mochis S.A. de C.V., El Arte de Cocinas y Beber S.A. de C.V., and Rosetta Gaming S.A. de C.V. among others. The sanctions also included companies in Canada and Poland.