Sinaloa Cartel โคCasinos Used Simulated Bets, Transfers to Launder Millions, U.S. Treasury Alleges
CULIACรN,MEXICO – A network of ten casinos across โMexico allegedly launderedโข over $2 millionโฃ for the โSinaloa Cartel โฃbetween 2017โค and 2024,utilizing simulatedโ bets and large international transfers,according โto a recent U.S. Treasury Departmentโ investigation. The Financialโฃ Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) โdetailed the scheme, which involved casinos Midas, Emine, Mirage, Palermo, and Skampa, located in Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, andโค Tabasco. The sanctions โคcome amidโฃ increased scrutiny of Mexican financial โinstitutions and a crackdown on โmoney laundering operations linked to drug โtrafficking.
The โU.S. Treasury’s Officeโ of Foreign Assets Controlโ (OFAC) complaint alleges senior managers at โthe โMidas Casino in Mazatlรกn made monthly disbursements to the cartel asโ part of a standing agreementโ with a high-ranking member. The Emineโ casinos inโค San โLuis Rรญo Coloradoโ and Palermo inโข Nogales (both in Sonora), along with Skampa Casino in Ensenada, Baja California, โคand Mirage in Culiacรกn, Sinaloa, reportedly operate under โthe โsame Midas directors, extending the illicit โขnetwork to additional locations in โAgua Prieta, Guamรบchil, Losโ Mochis, and Mazatlรกn (all in Sonora), Rosarito (Bajaโข California), and Villahermosa (Tabasco).
FinCEN’s report indicates โขcartel operatives provided โคcasinoโฃ management with โspecific instructions toโ evade โanti-money laundering controls. theseโค included limitingโ deposits to designated bank accounts to no more than 90,000 โคpesos (approximately $4,354 USD) and avoiding consecutive-day deposits to prevent account blockage. โAlternatively, cartel members were permitted toโฃ directly withdraw funds inโ person at the Midas Casino in Mazatlรกn. โ
The investigationโค revealed the cartel utilized over 30 Mexican-based โshell company bankโค accounts for โขcash deposits,โฃ further obscuring the source of funds.โ These actions โfollow โฃthe recent blocking of accounts atโ 13 other Mexican casinos by Mexicanโฃ authorities, prompted by similar concerns โคregarding cash operations, international flows, โฃand the use of unregulated digital platforms. The โU.S.actions underscore growing international pressure on Mexico to โcombatโข financial โขcrimes fueling the drugโ trade.