Overview

• Investigators from the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera have flagged at least 64 influencers, including Marcos Eduardo Castro Cárdenas, for possible laundering linked to Sinaloa Cartel factions Los Chapitos and Los Mayos.
• The probe focuses on unusual patterns of inflated follower growth, engagement spikes and ad revenue that suggest manipulation through bots and irregular donations.
• Markitos Toys has publicly rejected all laundering allegations, stating his income derives from legitimate business ventures and philanthropic efforts.
• No formal charges have been filed and the UIF continues to gather financial and digital evidence under an SHCP-backed initiative to curb organized crime in the online economy.
• The investigation represents a novel enforcement strategy to trace illicit financial flows through social media monetization with potential implications for dozens of other high-profile accounts.