SINALOA CARTEL: The US government this week sanctioned 10 Mexican casinos it said were fronts for the Sinaloa cartel. The moves means banks must check for any links to the casinos. FILE PHOTO shows State Police (Police Estatal, Guardia Civil and the Army (Ejercito) patrol the streets during a wave of killings and disappearances in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, on October 18, 2024. Culiacan is the Mexicos narco central and seat of the powerful Sinaloa cartel.
FINCEN has issued another unprecedented use of Special Measure 311, with an NPRM (notice of proposed rulemaking) prohibiting the processing of any funds for 10 named Mexican based Gambling Establishments.
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Investigation into illegal tobacco trafficking ring results in four arrests
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region’s Integrated Money Laundering Investigative Team (IMLIT) in Alberta charged four individuals with various fraud, money laundering, and contraband-related offences.
Following a complex investigation, IMLIT identified a Calgary-based criminal network centered around a multimillion-dollar contraband tobacco trafficking operation. A total of seven search warrants were executed across the Calgary and Airdrie areas, resulting in the seizure of:
More than $3 million in contraband tobacco;
Over 88 kg of unstamped illicit cannabis and cannabis byproducts;
Nearly 10 kg of illicit drugs, including Psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and LSD;
Nearly $170,000 cash; and,
More than $300,000 worth of precious metals, luxury goods, and a high-value vehicle.
INTERPOL Americas Conference strengthens collective response to organized crime
Interpol
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The INTERPOL Americas Regional Conference has concluded after two days of productive discussions, operational exchanges and strategic dialogue among law enforcement leaders.
Delegates examined the evolving threat landscape facing the Americas, with a particular focus on transnational organized crime, illicit financial flows and emerging crime trends.
Twenty-four CFD firms closing in crackdown on misuse of UK authorisation
Financial Conduct Authority
The FCA was concerned the firms were misusing their authorised status to mislead consumers. Three other firms are currently cancelling their permissions.
The FCA has been challenging CFD firms that carry out little UK business but use their authorisation as a badge to make linked overseas companies look more trustworthy than they really are. This creates the misleading impression that consumers are dealing directly with a UK-regulated firm and benefit from UK protections when they do not.
Firms have faced a range of actions, including restricting their trading abilities, requiring independent reviews of their business and opening enforcement investigations in the 2 most serious cases.