Treasury Issues Unprecedented Orders under Powerful New Authority to Counter Fentanyl

Immediate Release

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued orders identifying three Mexico-based financial institutions—CIBanco S.A., Institution de Banca Multiple (CIBanco), Intercam Banco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple (Intercam), and Vector Casa de Bolsa, S.A. de C.V. (Vector)—as being of primary money laundering concern in connection with illicit opioid trafficking, and prohibit, respectively, certain transmittals of funds involving CIBanco, Intercam, and Vector. These orders are the first actions by FinCEN pursuant to the Fentanyl Sanctions Act and the FEND Off Fentanyl Act, which provide Treasury with additional authorities to target money laundering associated with the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, including by cartels. This prohibition becomes effective 21 days following publication in the Federal Register.

Treasury News release: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0179

Treasury News release (Spanish): https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/el-departamento-del-tesoro-emite-historicas-ordenes-bajo-una-nueva-y-poderosa

FinCEN’s CIBanco Order: https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/Section-2313a-order-CIBanco-508.pdf

FinCEN’s Intercam Order: https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/Section-2313a-order-Intercam-Banco-508.pdf

FinCEN’s Vector Order: https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/2313a-Vector-508C.pdf

FAQs: https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/Final-FAQs.pdf

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