U.S. Targets $44B Cartel Money Laundering in Mexico

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of State has estimated that Mexican drug cartels launder approximately $44 billion annually, according to Katie Stana, Director of the Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The assessment follows the U.S. government’s designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations and underscores a strategic shift toward dismantling their financial operations.

Financial Warfare Against Cartels

Speaking at the ACAMS Latam Assembly in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Stana emphasized that combating organized crime requires more than law enforcement—it demands targeting illicit financial flows. “Criminal organizations are not only confronted with police, investigators, and prosecutors. They are also fought by tracking their money,” she stated.

The U.S. is intensifying collaboration with banks, regulators, and anti-money laundering specialists to block cartels from accessing the international financial system. This effort coincides with recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) against three Mexican financial institutions: CIBanco, Intercam Banco, and Vector Casa de Bolsa.

Sanctions and Alleged Cartel Ties

FinCEN’s order prohibits international transactions linked to these entities, citing ties to major cartels:

• CIBanco: Accused of maintaining “persistent links” to the Beltrán Leyva Organization, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and the Gulf Cartel, facilitating their illicit operations.
• Intercam Banco: Allegedly involved in laundering proceeds from opioid trafficking, particularly for the CJNG.
• Vector Casa de Bolsa: Linked to a Sinaloa Cartel money mule who transferred over $2 million from the U.S. to Mexico between 2013 and 2021.

CIBanco and Intercam hold assets exceeding $7 billion and $4 billion, respectively, while Vector manages approximately $11 billion. All three institutions have faced regulatory interventions following the U.S. allegations.

Broader Implications

The crackdown reflects growing U.S. scrutiny of Mexico’s financial sector amid escalating cartel violence. Stana’s remarks highlight a long-term strategy to disrupt cartel revenue streams rather than relying solely on militarized interventions.