Complaint Urges Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit to Freeze Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s Assets Over Alleged Fentanyl‑Fueled Money‑Laundering Network

Complaint cites 87 Salinas‑controlled entities said to have funneled drug proceeds through Banco Azteca and U.S. remittance partners.

On July 28, 2025, a formal complaint was filed with Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), requesting a criminal and fiscal investigation into billionaire Ricardo Benjamín Salinas Pliego (CURP SAPR551019HDFLLC09). The filing alleges that a constellation of 87 companies and trusts under Salinas’s control laundered proceeds from fentanyl trafficking by routing funds from the United States through Advance America / Purpose Financial Inc., Remitly Inc., and ultimately Banco Azteca in Mexico.

Key Allegations

Drug‑proceeds laundering: Illicit funds tied to the fentanyl trade allegedly moved from the U.S. into Mexico via electronic remittance platforms and were absorbed by Banco Azteca without proper anti‑money‑laundering (AML) controls.
Corporate web: The complaint details 87 entities active in finance, telecommunications, retail, energy, and media across Mexico, the United States, Spain, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Luxembourg, Brazil, and Hungary.
Legal violations cited: Mexico’s Federal Law Against Organized Crime, Law on Credit Institutions, LFPIORPI, and Articles 139‑Quáter and 400‑Bis of the Federal Criminal Code.
Urgent measures sought: Immediate account freezes, asset seizures, cross‑border information‑sharing with OFAC, FinCEN, and the DEA, and a special audit of Banco Azteca’s remittance practices.

Potential Repercussions if Allegations Are Proven

Domain	Possible Consequences
Criminal & Civil Liability	Salinas Pliego and senior executives could face multi‑count indictments, extradition requests, and prison sentences of up to 30 years under Mexico’s anti‑organized‑crime statutes. Companies may be fined or dissolved.
Asset Forfeiture & Freezes	Domestic and foreign authorities could seize or block bank accounts, real estate, aircraft, and shareholdings worldwide, triggering liquidity crises across the Salinas conglomerate.
Regulatory Sanctions	Banco Azteca’s banking license could be suspended or revoked; Grupo Elektra and Totalplay may lose concessions, spectrum, or operating permits, disrupting millions of customers.
International Blacklisting	OFAC could place Salinas‑linked entities on the SDN List, barring them from the U.S. financial system and crippling dollar‑denominated operations.
Capital‑Market Fallout	Credit‑rating downgrades, bond covenant breaches, and stock sell‑offs could wipe out billions in market capitalization and restrict access to new financing.
Reputational Damage	Advertisers, suppliers, and institutional investors may sever ties; charitable initiatives such as Fundación Azteca could lose donor support.
Operational Disruption	Frozen correspondent accounts may halt cross‑border payments, payroll, and vendor settlements, forcing layoffs and service outages across retail, telecom, and media units.

Full List of Salinas‑Controlled Entities Named in the Complaint

Foundations

Fundación Azteca – Mexico
Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego Center – Mexico

Investments & Holdings
3. Fraternitas LLC – USA
4. Baula Holco Investment SL – Spain
5. Mydas Propco Investments SL – Spain
6. Laud Propco Investments SL – Spain
7. Elektra Global Group SL – Spain
8. TV Azteca Global SL – Spain
9. Dopamine Films de Bilbao SL – Spain
10. Dopamine SL – Spain

Trusts & Fiduciary Structures
11. Trust No. F/710 – Mexico
12. Trust No. F/555 – Mexico
13. Administrative Trust No. F/1402 – Mexico
14. Guarantee Trust No. F/1410 – Mexico
15. Nosara Fiduciary Estate Management Trust – Luxembourg
16. Nosara S.A.R.L. SPF – Luxembourg
17. Lora Holdco Investments SL – Spain
18. Carey Propco Investments SL – Spain

Media & Entertainment (TV Azteca)
19. TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. – Mexico
20. Promotora de Torneos y Espectáculos Públicos, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
21. Televisión Azteca, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
22. Comerciacom, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
23. Televisión Azteca II, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
24. Red Azteca Internacional, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
25. Televisión Azteca III, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
26. Azteca Novelas, S.A.P.I. de C.V. – Mexico
27. Azteca Novelas II, S.A.P.I. de C.V. – Mexico
28. Servicios Especializados TAZ, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
29. Estudios Azteca, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
30. Operadora Mexicana de Televisión, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
31. Azteca International Corp. & Subsidiaries – USA
32. Inversora Mexicana de Producción, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
33. TV Azteca Honduras, S.A. de C.V. – Honduras
34. Mazatlán F.C., S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
35. TVA Guatemala, S.A. – Guatemala
36. Comercializadora en Medios de Comunicación de TV Azteca, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
37. Incotel, S.A. – Guatemala
38. SCI de México, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
39. Televisora del Valle de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. – Mexico
40. Producciones Dopamina, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
41. Servicios Aéreos Noticiosos, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
42. Azteca Comunicaciones Perú, S.A.C. – Peru

Business Services, Security & Energy
43. Upax GS, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
44. Agency I, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
45. Adamantium Private Services, S. de R.L. de C.V. – Mexico
46. REM (Regeneración Eléctrica Mexicana), S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
47. Geotérmica para el Desarrollo, S.A.P.I. de C.V. – Mexico

Retail, Logistics & Manufacturing
48. Tiendas Neto / Tiendas Súper Precio, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
49. Dialogus Consulting, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
50. Promo Espacio, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
51. Totalsec, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
52. Data Algorithma, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico

Totalplay Entities
53. Total Play Telecomunicaciones, S.A.P.I. de C.V. – Mexico
54. Gesalm Servicios, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
55. Gesalm Consultores, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
56. Total Box, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
57. Tendai, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
58. Total Play Comunicaciones Colombia, S.A.S. – Colombia
59. Lusatel USA, Inc. – USA
60. Gesalm Asesores, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
61. Total Telecom Play, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
62. Hogar Seguro TP, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
63. TP Go, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico

Grupo Elektra‑Related Companies
64. GS Definición, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
65. Operadoras en Servicios Comerciales, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
66. Telecomunicaciones 360, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
67. Banco Azteca de Brasil (Deler Consultar, S.A.) – Brazil
68. Administrativo Empresariales, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
69. Elektra Centroamérica, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
70. Selabe Motors, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
71. Dirección de Administración Central, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
72. Mercadotecnia Tezonte, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
73. Compañía Operadora de Teatros, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
74. Procesos de Oro y Metales, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
75. Cecoban, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
76. Selabe Diseños, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
77. Melandas Payments, S.A.P.I. de C.V. – Mexico
78. Mercancía Exclusiva Universal, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
79. Elmex Superior, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
80. Salinas y Rocha, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
81. Seguros Azteca Daños, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
82. Intra Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
83. Mi Garantía Extendida, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
84. Inmuebles Ardoma, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
85. Aerotaxis Metropolitanos, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
86. Nueva Elektra del Milenio, S.A. de C.V. – Mexico
87. Banco Azteca, S.A. (and Fibra entities) – Mexico

Spokesperson Statement

“We call on the UIF to deploy every legal tool available to protect Mexico’s financial system from becoming a conduit for fentanyl profits. The magnitude of the alleged scheme mandates a swift, coordinated response across borders.”

Media Contact:

Justicia Empresarial
+52 800 681 9562
contacto.prensa@justiciaempresarial.com
https://justiciaempresarial.com/

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