"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
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The U.S. and Mexico are cracking down on gaming operations they suspect of money laundering.
Mexican officials said they suspended operations at 13 casinos where operators allegedly misused customers’ identities, credited them with millions of dollars in earnings they did not receive, and shipped profits to overseas accounts.
Students, homemakers or retirees without a lot of money were among those who placed the suspect bets after getting prepaid cards or electronic codes, said Grisel Galeano, Mexico’s top tax prosecutor.
The OFAC also accused some of the suspects, which it identified as Albanian nationals, of smuggling of bulk cash to the United States, using gambling establishments and upscale restaurants in Mexico allegedly for “laundering illicit funds belonging to suspected narcotraffickers.”
Mexico-based Entretenimiento Palmero, S.A. de C.V., owned by Arben, is central to the HOCG’s operations. Mexican national Gilberto Lopez Lopez acts as its commissioner. Albanian national but Mexico-based Eselda Baku (formerly Eselda Hysa), Ramiz’s daughter, sits on its Board of Directors.
In interviews with media outlets in both Albania and Mexico, Luftar Hysa denied any connection to organized crime or to leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, such as Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada . He maintained that all his business activities are legitimate and attributed the accusations to rivalries and competition in the casino and gambling sector.
In words collected by Kapitali, Hysa declared: “Have I met El Mayo? Do I deal cards? I only do legitimate business. What is going on? Absolutely not.”
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The decisions cannot be appealed, but Grupo Salinas, the umbrella conglomerate, and Mexico’s tax authority could negotiate an agreement. That could be complicated however, as Salinas insists that he is being targeted because of his criticism of the current administration.
The dispute between Salinas and AT&T stems from AT&T’s purchase of Salinas’ Mexican telecom business in 2014. In 2020, AT&T sued Salinas, “alleging it was owed money over unpaid taxes dating back to previous ownership,” according to Bloomberg.
A corporate intelligence firm hired by a Mexican billionaire’s team secretly recorded an opposition lawyer over a drink-fueled dinner in a bid to get evidence to help it win a London lawsuit without needing a trial.
The tactic backfired after the judge said while Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s stock-lending fraud allegations against Astor Asset Management appeared strong, the evidence was gathered unethically and a trial is needed.
OFAC identified two Canadian companies, Hysa Holdings and Rosetta Gaming, and a Polish company named Rosetta Gaming SP as targets of sanctions.
Gilberto Lopez Lopez, of Sinaloa, Mexico, and the commissioner of a gaming establishment allegedly owned by one of the Hysas, was also hit with sanctions.
Gilberto Lopez Lopez, of Sinaloa, Mexico, and the commissioner of a gaming establishment allegedly owned by one of the Hysas, was also hit with sanctions.
US Sanctions Hysa Group
On Thursday, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it was freezing the U.S. assets of 27 individuals and businesses in Mexico, Canada and Poland.
The U.S. sanctions target the Hysa Organized Crime Group. In a statement, OFAC said the group “is believed to operate with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel, which maintains criminal control over much of the territory where the group conducts its activities.”
The U.S. sanctions target the Hysa Organized Crime Group. In a statement, OFAC said the group “is believed to operate with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel, which maintains criminal control over much of the territory where the group conducts its activities.”
The Hysa family is of Albanian origin and is headed by Luftar Hysa. Other family members involved with him in his businesses and also implicated in the accusations include Arben Hysa, Ramiz Hysa, Fatos Hysa, and Fabjon Hysa.
The Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOCG) has used its influence through its investments in, or control over, various Mexico-based businesses, including gambling establishments and restaurants, to launder the proceeds of narcotics trafficking.
The OFAC also accused some of the suspects, which it identified as Albanian nationals, of smuggling of bulk cash to the United States, using gambling establishments and upscale restaurants in Mexico allegedly for “laundering illicit funds belonging to suspected narcotraffickers.”
Mexico-based Entretenimiento Palmero, S.A. de C.V., owned by Arben, is central to the HOCG’s operations. Mexican national Gilberto Lopez Lopez acts as its commissioner. Albanian national but Mexico-based Eselda Baku (formerly Eselda Hysa), Ramiz’s daughter, sits on its Board of Directors.
- Palmero, S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Bliri S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Cucina Del Porto S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Diversiones Los Mochis S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- El Arte de Cocinas y Beber S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Entretenimiento Villahermosa S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Entretenimiento Y Espectaculos B.C. S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Grupo Internacional Canhysamex S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- H Hidrocarburos S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Hysa Forwarders S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- LH Pro-Gaming S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- LH Rental S.A. De C.V. (Mexico)
- Operadora Alejil S.A. De C.V. (Mexico)
- Operadora de Empresas LH S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Procesadora de Alimentos Hs S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Rosetta Gaming S.A. de C.V. (Mexico)
- Hysa Holdings Inc (Canada)
- Rosetta Gaming Inc (Canada)
- Rosetta Gaming SP ZOO (Poland)
Luftar Hysa, based between Mexico and Canada, is often seen in public media as a leading member of the Hysa family, providing public interviews on his family’s businesses in Mexico and Europe. Luftar, Fatos, Arben, and Fabjon have worked closely with a U.S. person to launder money, including the movement of bulk cash from Mexico to the United States, where the U.S. person’s company was used to launder the funds.
Luftar and Arben have utilized a Europe-based entity to enrich themselves from laundering illicit funds belonging to suspected narcotraffickers. Luftar also owns or directs several companies used by the HOCG.
Arben owns or directs several companies used by the HOCG in Mexico. Arben has also been involved in the smuggling of bulk cash to the United States for the purposes of money laundering, as well as the use of gambling establishments and luxury restaurants in Mexico to launder drug money.
Ramiz has been involved in the use of gambling establishments and luxury restaurants in Mexico as fronts for laundering the proceeds of the sale of narcotics.
Fatos, alongside Luftar, Arben, and Fabjon, was involved in smuggling bulk cash into the United States for the purpose of laundering money. Fatos and Fabjon were also involved in the use of a Europe-based entity to enrich themselves from laundering illicit funds belonging to suspected narcotraffickers.
Arben owns or directs several companies used by the HOCG in Mexico. Arben has also been involved in the smuggling of bulk cash to the United States for the purposes of money laundering, as well as the use of gambling establishments and luxury restaurants in Mexico to launder drug money.
Ramiz has been involved in the use of gambling establishments and luxury restaurants in Mexico as fronts for laundering the proceeds of the sale of narcotics.
Fatos, alongside Luftar, Arben, and Fabjon, was involved in smuggling bulk cash into the United States for the purpose of laundering money. Fatos and Fabjon were also involved in the use of a Europe-based entity to enrich themselves from laundering illicit funds belonging to suspected narcotraffickers.
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Who is Luftar Hysa?
Luftar Hysa, an engineer by training, recounted part of his career in an interview with Opinion, published on the website Insajderi.org. According to his interview, he began his working life as a mechanical director and head of the water department in Cërrik, Albania in addition to having been politically active during the early years of the Albanian democratic transition.
After the violence and crisis of 1997 in Albania, Hysa moved to South Africa in 1998, where some of his siblings already lived. There, he ventured into the gambling industry for the first time, becoming part of a small Albanian community.
Later, in 2001, he emigrated to Peru with associates to open a betting business, remaining there until 2004. That year, he decided to move to Mexico after identifying expansion opportunities in the gaming industry. Since then, he has established and operated businesses in the country.
After the violence and crisis of 1997 in Albania, Hysa moved to South Africa in 1998, where some of his siblings already lived. There, he ventured into the gambling industry for the first time, becoming part of a small Albanian community.
Later, in 2001, he emigrated to Peru with associates to open a betting business, remaining there until 2004. That year, he decided to move to Mexico after identifying expansion opportunities in the gaming industry. Since then, he has established and operated businesses in the country.
Hysa emphasized that he has been a Mexican citizen since 2016 and a Canadian resident, while his family lives in Canada. At that time, he lived in Cancún.
In the interview, Luftar Hysa denied any connection to organized crime and attributed the accusations against him to a confusion related to the existence of another Albanian citizen with the same name, wanted by Interpol in 2010.
His name appeared in the Panama Papers, Hysa explained that he explored the Panamanian market in 2020, although without opening any bank or business accounts in that country. He acknowledged that a related company had operations in Panama until 2006, which, in his opinion, explains its mention in public records, although he denied any wrongdoing.
In the interview, Luftar Hysa denied any connection to organized crime and attributed the accusations against him to a confusion related to the existence of another Albanian citizen with the same name, wanted by Interpol in 2010.
His name appeared in the Panama Papers, Hysa explained that he explored the Panamanian market in 2020, although without opening any bank or business accounts in that country. He acknowledged that a related company had operations in Panama until 2006, which, in his opinion, explains its mention in public records, although he denied any wrongdoing.
In words collected by Kapitali, Hysa declared: “Have I met El Mayo? Do I deal cards? I only do legitimate business. What is going on? Absolutely not.”
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Global Gaming Companies
The Treasury Department alleges the Hysa Organized Crime Group operates those establishments.
- Emine Casino, located in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico
- Casino Mirage, located in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Midas Casino, located Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico
- Midas Casino, located in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Midas Casino, located in Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Midas Casino, located in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Midas Casino, located in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico
- Palermo Casino, located in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
- Skampa Casino, located in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
- Skampa Casino, located in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
An investigation published in 2023 by La Presse and reproduced by the Albanian press, reported that the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada decided to revoke the “key person” license of Luftar Hysa, after an investigation that detected “suspicious transfers” and possible links with Mexican criminal groups.
According to court documents from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, "everything indicates that the Hysa group penetrated the Kahnawake Indigenous Reserve to facilitate money laundering for the Sinaloa cartel and for their own benefit."
The Mirela restaurant, owned by Hysa and located in the Magic Palace casino (Kahnawake), appears in reports from the Canadian anti-money laundering authority (FINTRAC) as the origin of $28 million Canadian dollars in transfers made, between 2019 and 2020, to accounts in Albania, Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission's decision stated that its ruling was based "on an extensive and thorough investigation conducted by independent agents," and that further action would be reviewed in conjunction with the local Mohawk council. Days later, the Magic Palace casino announced the termination of all business dealings with Hysa.
Mexico’s Supreme Court on Thursday rejected legal measures from companies in the conglomerate led by one of the country’s wealthiest men, challenging tax debts of more than $2.6 billion dollars.
The court ruled against seven of nine legal remedies similar to an injunction called “amparos,” filed by various companies of Ricardo Salinas Pliego. It did not rule yet on the other two. The debts date from more than a decade ago.
According to court documents from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, "everything indicates that the Hysa group penetrated the Kahnawake Indigenous Reserve to facilitate money laundering for the Sinaloa cartel and for their own benefit."
The Mirela restaurant, owned by Hysa and located in the Magic Palace casino (Kahnawake), appears in reports from the Canadian anti-money laundering authority (FINTRAC) as the origin of $28 million Canadian dollars in transfers made, between 2019 and 2020, to accounts in Albania, Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission's decision stated that its ruling was based "on an extensive and thorough investigation conducted by independent agents," and that further action would be reviewed in conjunction with the local Mohawk council. Days later, the Magic Palace casino announced the termination of all business dealings with Hysa.
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| Telecom billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego. |
Grupo Salinas Political & Legal Issues
In Mexico, two of the casinos ordered to suspend operations belong to a company owned by television and retail magnate Ricardo Salinas Pliego, who has repeatedly clashed with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Grupo Salinas on Wednesday denied any wrongdoing and referred to the investigation against its two establishments as harassment.Mexico’s Supreme Court on Thursday rejected legal measures from companies in the conglomerate led by one of the country’s wealthiest men, challenging tax debts of more than $2.6 billion dollars.
The court ruled against seven of nine legal remedies similar to an injunction called “amparos,” filed by various companies of Ricardo Salinas Pliego. It did not rule yet on the other two. The debts date from more than a decade ago.
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| Grupo Salinas owns a variety of companies from telecom to TV stations and banking firms. |
The decisions cannot be appealed, but Grupo Salinas, the umbrella conglomerate, and Mexico’s tax authority could negotiate an agreement. That could be complicated however, as Salinas insists that he is being targeted because of his criticism of the current administration.
Billionaire businessman Ricardo Salinas, one of Mexico’s richest people, posted a US $25 million bond in the United States to avoid arrest over a debt some of his companies owe to the telecommunications company AT&T.
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The dispute between Salinas and AT&T stems from AT&T’s purchase of Salinas’ Mexican telecom business in 2014. In 2020, AT&T sued Salinas, “alleging it was owed money over unpaid taxes dating back to previous ownership,” according to Bloomberg.
The tactic backfired after the judge said while Ricardo Salinas Pliego’s stock-lending fraud allegations against Astor Asset Management appeared strong, the evidence was gathered unethically and a trial is needed.
Salinas, a TV, retail and banking magnate, is one of the current administration’s most outspoken critics.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum accused the 69-year-old businessman of committing fraud in the sale of his telecommunications company to AT&T. She asserted that he sold the company (for US $2.5 billion) “without informing all the conditions of the sale.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum accused the 69-year-old businessman of committing fraud in the sale of his telecommunications company to AT&T. She asserted that he sold the company (for US $2.5 billion) “without informing all the conditions of the sale.”
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