The US Treasury Department sanctioned two Mexicans and nine companies on Tuesday for fuel smuggling benefiting the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The official document for the first time links illicit proceeds to financing political campaigns and media in Mexico.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Treasury Department imposed the measures on June 30. The statement notes that approximately 30 percent of fuel in Mexico is smuggled and warns that cartels use the proceeds for cash payments to political campaigns and media to help elect corrupt politicians.
President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the claims arguing there is no evidence and recalled that the Financial Intelligence Unit was already collaborating on the investigation. She criticized the US government for releasing the information without waiting for a joint statement.
Morena coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies Ricardo Monreal on July 1 called on the United States to present evidence and said the Attorney General's Office must act ex officio if proof exists. He attributed the accusations to the electoral context in the United States.
