U.S. Sanctions Hysa Family Over Cartel Money Laundering

The Hysa family has recently been under intense scrutiny following the imposition of sanctions by United States authorities due to their alleged involvement in money laundering for drug cartels in Mexico. This family of Albanian origin, whose business core is focused on the operation of casinos, has been accused of facilitating the laundering of funds from organized crime, specifically from the Sinaloa Cartel and other international criminal organizations.

This is not the first time the Hysa family name has been linked to money laundering activities. In September 2022, EL UNIVERSAL revealed that federal government intelligence authorities detected an alliance between Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and an Albanian mafia to launder millions of dollars in businesses, real estate, and investments in the tourism sector.

According to intelligence sources consulted by this publication, this criminal group possesses a network of casinos and businesses in Sonora, Baja California, and Quintana Roo where they launder millions of dollars from organized crime in conjunction with lawyers and front men. Authorities also mentioned that the Albanian group would also be related to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho.”

It is now known that this group refers to the Hysa family: Luftar, Arben, Ramiz, Fatos, and Fabjon.

Hysa Brothers Deny Links to Organized Crime

After these links were revealed, the lawyer for the Albanian businessmen, Marcelo Falce, in October of that same year, denied that they launder money for the Sinaloa Cartel and assured that the brothers are working people and have never had problems or links with organized crime.

The legal advisor for the businessmen indicated at that time that the companies were investigated by the Attorney General's Office of the Republic (FGR), stemming from an anonymous complaint for alleged money laundering for “El Mayo” Zambada, in which the authority in 2021 determined not to pursue criminal charges.

On Thursday, November 13, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against what it called the Hysa Organized Crime Group, which, according to the authorities, the Hysa family has "used its influence through its investments or control over various businesses based in Mexico, including gambling establishments and restaurants, to launder the profits from drug trafficking."

The authorities state that Luftar, Fatos, Arben, and Fabjon have collaborated with a U.S. citizen to launder money and move large amounts from Mexico to the United States. Furthermore, it indicated that Luftar and Arben have used an entity based in Europe to enrich themselves through the laundering of illicit funds belonging to drug traffickers.

Regarding Arben, the Treasury Department detailed that he owns or operates several companies used by the Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOGC) in Mexico and has been involved in smuggling large amounts of cash into the United States. In addition to using casinos and restaurants to launder money.

Regarding Ramiz, it accuses him of having participated in the use of casinos and luxury restaurants in Mexico as a front to launder the profits of organized crime. The same accusations are leveled against Fatos, who is also accused of participating in the use of an entity in Europe to enrich himself through the laundering of illicit funds.

The sanctions also mention Eselda Baku, daughter of Ramiz, who has Albanian citizenship.

Although the Hysa brothers have repeatedly denied any link to organized crime, the sanctions imposed by U.S. authorities highlight a network of suspicious financial operations involving casinos and restaurants in Mexico and Europe.