Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How Mexican narcos use remittances to wire U.S. drug profits home
Reuters ^ | August 18, 2023 | By Diego Ore

Posted on 08/18/2023 5:08:26 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Drug cartels are using remittances – money transfers favored by migrant workers – to send illicit earnings back to Mexico. They’re hiring armies of people on both sides of the border to move small sums that are difficult to trace to narcotics kingpins, authorities say. Reuters visited Sinaloa, where some residents admitted to cashing remittances for the Sinaloa Cartel.

CULIACÁN, Mexico -- A Mexican mother walked into a bank in her home city of Culiacán in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, where an $8,000 remittance from the United States was waiting. She withdrew the funds in local currency, then strolled across town and deposited nearly all of it into accounts at two different banks.

Her cut: $230 worth of Mexican pesos.

It was the start of easy money for the woman, who said she previously had struggled to make ends meet cleaning houses.

Remittances to Mexico, nearly all of which come from the United States, hit a record $58.5 billion last year, according to data from Mexico’s central bank. That’s an increase of $25 billion, or 74%, compared to 2018.

As legitimate remittances have ballooned, it has become ever easier for cartels to disguise their ill-gotten gains in small transfers sent to average people across Mexico who have no obvious links to organized crime, according to four U.S. and Mexican security officials.

The cartels are awash in cash from U.S. sales of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines and marijuana. Presently, up to 10% of all Mexico-bound remittances may be drug money moved by criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, according to a U.S. government official.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: border; cartels; drugs; remittances
10% for the Big Guy.
1 posted on 08/18/2023 5:08:26 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Here’s the big secret about banking: They don’t give a shit about cash. Just don’t go to Chase or Wells Fargo. Go to small town banks. They take any amount of cash. So do small town car dealerships. Buy a $30,000 car and drive it across the border. There are still plenty of business that take cash for anything.


2 posted on 08/18/2023 5:13:29 AM PDT by CodeToad (No Arm up! They have!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Too busy gaslighting Americans about Climate nonsense and how great Bidenomics is working to stop this

It won’t be long until they claim $700 per month increase in costs from two years ago would have been far worse without Potemkins Joe’s spending trillions on boondoggles.


3 posted on 08/18/2023 5:20:34 AM PDT by Fzob (“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad

Let’s not forget Walmart. More U.S. dollars sent through those stores than most of the U.S. small banks I’ll wager. They also cash paychecks for the illegals - no questions asked. The small banks won’t do that.


4 posted on 08/18/2023 5:21:59 AM PDT by torqemada (BIDEN IS NOT MY PRESIDENT #RESIST)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I’ve said it for years, these “remittances” should be taxed at 50%.

L


5 posted on 08/18/2023 5:22:11 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Doesn’t take a genius to figure this out. They’ve been doing it for years and years.


6 posted on 08/18/2023 5:24:29 AM PDT by Tommy Revolts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Tax remittances 35% to account for unpaid income tax, FICA, Medicare, etc.


7 posted on 08/18/2023 5:35:44 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: torqemada

Wal-Mart. Absolutely true.


8 posted on 08/18/2023 5:41:58 AM PDT by CodeToad (No Arm up! They have!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

This isn’t news.

What’s news is that the government is letting it happen.


9 posted on 08/18/2023 5:45:58 AM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

Not just drug money but majority of wire transfers are likely money illegals got somehow while being here. They surely didnt bring it here when they came.


10 posted on 08/18/2023 5:53:21 AM PDT by b4me
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tommy Revolts

Yep.


11 posted on 08/18/2023 7:14:35 AM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear ("Equity" = "All animals are equal. Some animals are more equal than others.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer

I have said for years that the BP should RAID every WESTERN UNION location on every weekend.

ALL Hispanics sending 90% of their pay south.

HAVE PHYSICALLY SEEN THE LINES/


12 posted on 08/18/2023 7:40:10 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson