Mexican Government Accused of Covering Up Money Laundering Linked to High-Ranking Officials

Mexico City, Mexico – New revelations suggest that the Mexican government, including the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) and the administrations of President López Obrador and President-elect Sheinbaum, may have concealed information regarding a multi-million dollar money laundering operation. This scheme is reportedly linked to Genaro García Luna, former Federal Security Secretary, and Vector Casa de Bolsa, a financial firm owned by Alfonso Romo, who served as López Obrador's Chief of Staff. According to reports, the UIF, led by Pablo Gómez, was aware for over a year of the connection between García Luna's alleged illicit funds and Vector Casa de Bolsa. Despite this knowledge, the information was not made public by Mexican authorities. This alleged cover-up comes to light after the U.S. Treasury Department recently accused Vector Casa de Bolsa of laundering money for drug cartels. Journalist Carlos Loret de Mola highlighted the discrepancy, noting that while the Mexican government filed a civil lawsuit in the United States to recover $600 million supposedly embezzled by García Luna, it failed to disclose the involvement of a high-ranking official's firm in the money transfers. President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, when questioned, stated that Mexican authorities only found administrative violations by Vector Casa de Bolsa, for which the firm was already sanctioned. She emphasized that her government would act within the law and not protect anyone. Opposition figures, including Ricardo Anaya, coordinator of PAN senators, criticized the government for demanding evidence when it already possessed information about Vector Casa de Bolsa's operations. Anaya called for the heads of the Treasury and the National Banking and Securities Commission to appear before the Senate to clarify the situation, emphasizing the gravity of financial institutions being involved in money laundering for criminal organizations.