Mexico blocks several bank accounts linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and Caro Quintero

Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), led by Santiago Nieto , blocked several bank accounts linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero .

On March 30, the UIF ordered the measure because it detected unusual movements in the financial system. The operations were worth over MXN $1,500 million. In total, the bank accounts owned by 9 people and 5 companies linked to the Sinaloa Cartel , a criminal organization once led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán , were blocked.

Moreover, other accounts owned by four people linked to Rafael Caro Quintero were also blocked. Decades ago, Caro Quintero was one of the leaders of the now-extinct Guadalajara Cartel .

The measure was the result of an investigation between the DEA and the UIF.

During the investigation, the UIF found a financial operator who works for the Sinaloa Cartel. He received money from a company established in Jaslico through his wife, who received 58 checks for MXN $12,776,000. These checks were later cashed. One of the shareholders of the Jalisco company is also the legal representative of at least 13 other companies.

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Moreover, the UIF found that two financial operators from the Sinaloa Cartel purchased four properties located in Culiacán for MXN $17,352,000.

In collaboration with the DEA , the UIF found that one of these companies triangulates resources with another company located in Delaware , U.S.

In the last 12 months, the UIF has frozen over MXN $1000 million from different drug cartels .

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In 2019 alone, the institution blocked 330 accounts linked to the Sinaloa Cartel .

The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the most dangerous and powerful cartels in Mexico. It was once led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán . It is believed “El Mayo” Zambada is now the main leader.

Rafael Caro Quintero

is an infamous drug trafficker . Along with others, he once led the now extinct Guadalajara Cartel. He gained notoriety after ordering the kidnap, torture, and murder of DEA agent “Kiki” Camarena .

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