US authorities have launched a raft of sanctions against a notorious crime family in Mexico accused of using gambling establishments for cartel-related money laundering.
The action by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) centres on the Hysa Organised Crime Group (HOCG) and a slew of businesses, primarily gambling companies, contained within their criminal network.
The family is believed to be operating with the permission of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa Cartel, widely considered to be one of the most powerful international drug-trafficking organisations.
Alongside the OFAC’s sanctions, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued a notice against ten Mexican casinos believed to be operated by HOCG and allegedly used to facilitate money laundering for the Sinaloa Cartel.
Family members Luftar, Arben, Ramiz, Fatos and Fabjon have all been named by OFAC.
Each of the members is accused of using the various establishments to launder illicit funds, including money from drug trafficking, and move money from Mexico to the US and Europe.
According to OFAC, Entretenimiento Palmero, S.A. de C.V., a casino and entertainment company owned by Arben Hysa, is central to the HOCG’s operations.
OFAC has also sanctioned several other gaming companies based in Mexico, Canada and Poland.
The family is believed to be operating with the permission of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa Cartel, widely considered to be one of the most powerful international drug-trafficking organisations.
Andrea Gacki, Director of FinCEN, commented: “The Treasury will continue working to protect the U.S. financial system from abuse by illicit actors and will use all its tools and authorities to target the financing of transnational criminal organisations.”
As a result of the action, all property and interests of the sanctioned individuals in the US are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.
Individuals or financial institutions can also face civil or criminal penalties for engaging with the sanctioned individuals and companies.
The US authorities’ focus on the role of gaming within organised crime has also extended beyond its neighbours in recent weeks.
Alongside the UK Treasury, OFAC sanctioned Prince Holding Group, a Cambodian conglomerate, and its founder Chen Zhi, who are accused of constructing casinos and compounds that are being used as scam centres to defraud victims out of billions of dollars.
The two governments have seized 127,271 bitcoins, worth approximately $15bn, and frozen assets linked to the Prince group, including a number of properties in London.
