There’s Something Rotten In Baja California

"Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

In seven months, on three occasions—in March, September, and November of 2025—the U.S. Treasury Department, through OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) and FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network), issued three sanctions against criminal organizations based in Baja California, but which are not under investigation in Mexico.

The first alert, issued in March, was titled by the U.S. government as “The Sinaloa Cartel Money Laundering Network.” It named 11 individuals, headed by the four Guzmán brothers: Iván Archivaldo, Jesús Alfredo, Joaquín, and Ovidio, all sons of Joaquín Guzmán Loera. It also named six individuals responsible for money laundering and at least seven companies. A supplementary document from the money laundering network directly implicated Christopher Ortega Lomelí and others in crimes of conspiracy to import controlled substances, to distribute those substances, and to launder money.

The issue is that Ortega Lomelí appeared on the National Transparency Platform as an official of the Baja California State Penitentiary System Commission until April 2025, when he resigned from his position as an analyst on the commission chaired by Attorney General Elena Andrade, following his inclusion in the Sinaloa Cartel's money laundering network by the Treasury Department.

On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions and asset freezes against members of what it called “The Smuggling Empire: The Rosarito Beach Network.” This included the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, headed by Juan José Ponce Félix, alias “El Ruso,” and brothers Alfonso and René Arzate García, as well as six other individuals, among them two businessmen, Candelario Arcega and Jesús González Lomelí, and the former mayor of Rosarito, Araceli Brown, a member of the Morena party. However, neither the Attorney General's Office (FGR) nor local authorities in Mexico are investigating them, although the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) did freeze the assets of the 15 companies included in the OFAC sanctions, some of which are owned by Arcega and González Lomelí, along with other partners from Baja California.

Arcega, González, and Brown are not under investigation in Mexico, nor is Ortega Lomelí, and they continue to engage in commercial, political, or legislative activities despite the freezing of their accounts. In fact, federal deputy Araceli Brown attended Governor Marina del Pilar Avila's state address and took photographs with other local political figures in complete freedom.

On November 12, the Treasury Department, through FinCEN, issued new sanctions and special measures against ten gambling establishments in Mexico, two of which are located in Baja California: one in Ensenada and the other in Rosarito.

Specifically, in coordination with the Mexican government, the Treasury Department issued the special measures against what it identified as the “Hysa Organized Crime Group” (GDOH), which “has used its influence, through investments or control over various businesses in Mexico—including casinos and restaurants—to launder drug money. It is believed that GDOH operates with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel, which maintains criminal control over much of the territory where the group conducts its activities.”

Twenty-seven individuals were sanctioned by OFAC, and ten casinos were subject to special measures by FinCEN, restricting their access to the U.S. financial system. The sanctioned casinos, according to the list released on November 13, were: Emine Casino, located in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora; Casino Mirage, in Culiacán, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Agua Prieta, Sonora; Midas Casino, in Los Mochis, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Guamúchil, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa; Midas Casino, in Rosarito, Baja California; Casino Palermo, in Nogales, Sonora; Casino Skampa, in Ensenada, Baja California; and Casino Skampa, located in Villahermosa, Tabasco.

The Mexican government also announced the suspension of operations at thirteen land-based and online casinos for alleged money laundering and tax evasion activities.

For the Sinaloa Cartel, on any of its fronts—whether Los Chapitos, Los Mayos, or intermediate cells—Baja California has been fertile ground for the expansion of its illicit drug business, its real estate cartel, and money laundering. These activities are not properly investigated at either the state or federal level, or are only superficially addressed when, as in March, September, and November, the Treasury Department issues sanctions, alerts, or special measures.

In fact, only in the last two cases has the federal government acted in a consistent manner: first, it froze the accounts of Araceli Brown, Candelario Arcega, and Jesús González Lomelí, as well as those of their companies and partnerships, and now it is doing so with thirteen casinos, limiting their financial activities and apparently initiating an investigation into money laundering and tax evasion.

The individuals named, however, continue to enjoy total impunity, socializing, engaging in politics, business, forming new partnerships, supporting governments and campaigns, in a political, governmental and criminal environment that reeks of corruption; although the stench is only noticeable north of the border.

Source: Zeta Tijuana