OFAC Sanctions Mexican Money Laundering Group, Family Members

The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Nov. 13 sanctioned the Mexico-based Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOCG), a transnational criminal organization, and five members of the Hysa family for laundering drug-trafficking proceeds through various Mexico-based businesses.

The family members are Luftar Hysa, Arben Hysa, Ramiz Hysa, Fatos Hysa and Fabjon Hysa. OFAC also designated 21 entities and individuals within HOCG’s network, including Mexico-based Entretenimiento Palmero, S.A. de C.V., which is “central to the HOCG’s operations.”

Concurrently, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is cutting off 10 Mexico-based, HOCG-operated casinos from the U.S. financial system for facilitating money laundering for the Sinaloa Cartel, a Mexico-based drug-trafficking organization also known as the Cartel de Sinaloa. The State Department designated the Sinaloa Cartel a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in February (see 2502190011).

OFAC and FinCEN coordinated their actions with the Mexican government, the Treasury Department said.