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Mexico Blocks 13 Casinos and Halts Operations Over Suspected Money Laundering

Financial intelligence will file criminal and tax complaints with federal prosecutors following the suspensions.

Overview

  • The Finance Ministry and its Financial Intelligence Unit, working with the Security Cabinet, labeled the casinos high risk and placed their companies on the national blocked list to protect users.
  • Segob’s gaming authority ordered immediate shutdowns of physical venues and online platforms after a months-long probe spanning eight states including Jalisco, Nuevo León and Mexico City.
  • Investigators cited multimillion-peso cash movements and international transfers to the United States, Romania, Albania, Malta and Panama.
  • Authorities described a scheme using unsupervised digital platforms and third-party profiles such as homemakers, students, retirees and unemployed people to funnel funds to ultimate beneficiaries.
  • Officials said the action aligns with cooperation involving FinCEN, OFAC and FATF standards, while two companies tied to Grupo Salinas said they were included and called the move politically driven.