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/
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Stock Invest journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
