Mexico Temporarily Intervenes Three Banks Following U.S. Allegations of Money Laundering and Fentanyl Trafficking

During Friday morning’s presidential press conference (“La Mañanera”), Mexico’s Secretary of Finance, Edgar Amador, confirmed that the federal government has carried out a temporary intervention in the management of three Mexican financial institutions. The move follows a formal complaint by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which accuses the banks of involvement in money laundering and fentanyl trafficking.

The intervention was implemented as a preventive measure to protect the country’s banking system and secure the savings of customers using those institutions.

“We decided to temporarily intervene in the administration of these institutions to ensure there would be no disruption to the banking system and to proactively protect clients’ savings,” said Secretary Amador.

What Does the Bank Intervention Mean?

According to Mexican authorities, the intervention does not imply a shutdown or nationalization of the banks. Instead, it involves temporary direct oversight to ensure compliance with both national and international financial regulations and to prevent the banking sector from being used for illicit purposes.

While the names of the intervened banks have not been disclosed publicly for security reasons, industry sources indicate that the institutions have operations near the U.S.–Mexico border and a record of suspicious international transactions.

U.S.-Mexico Cooperation Against Financial Crime

The action follows a formal accusation from the U.S. Treasury Department, which provided evidence of financial operations linked to drug trafficking and the illegal distribution of fentanyl — a synthetic opioid at the center of a public health crisis in North America.

Financial crime experts see this move as a sign of strengthened cooperation between Mexico and the United States in the fight against transnational organized crime, and as a message of zero tolerance for the misuse of the financial system in criminal activities.