In a sweeping move to combat fentanyl trafficking and financial crimes, the U.S. Department of the Treasury has identified *three Mexican financial institutions—CIBanco, **Intercam Banco, and **Vector Casa de Bolsa—as key facilitators in laundering money for drug cartels. The announcement, made on June 25, 2025, marks the first use of new powers granted under the *Fentanyl Sanctions Act and the FEND Off Fentanyl Act.
According to the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), these institutions played a prolonged and critical role in moving millions of dollars for criminal organizations, including the *Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the **Gulf Cartel, and the *Beltrán Leyva Cartel. The funds were allegedly used to purchase chemical precursors—primarily from China—used in the production of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid fueling a public health crisis in the U.S..
CIBanco, with over $7 billion in assets, was found to have processed over $2.1 million in payments tied to fentanyl production and even created accounts specifically for laundering cartel funds. Intercam, with $4 billion in assets, reportedly held meetings with CJNG members to coordinate illicit transactions. Vector, a brokerage firm managing nearly $11 billion, was also implicated in facilitating cross-border money flows for these groups.
As a result, U.S. financial institutions are now prohibited from conducting transactions with these entities, including any accounts or cryptocurrency addresses linked to them. These restrictions will take effect 21 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The sanctions underscore a growing effort by U.S. authorities to disrupt the financial infrastructure of transnational criminal organizations and curb the flow of synthetic opioids into the country. Mexican and U.S. officials have pledged continued cooperation to strengthen anti-money laundering controls and protect both nations from illicit finance threats.
Source: CNN Español
