Snapshot:
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a supplemental alert warning financial institutions about fuel smuggling and tax evasion schemes connected to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and other Mexico-based criminal organizations. The alert outlines typologies, red flags, and SAR reporting expectations related to what FinCEN describes as “fiscal fuel theft.”
Why it Matters:
This is exactly the type of examiner-focused guidance BSA/AML teams should pay attention to. FinCEN is providing specific indicators and reporting expectations for detecting cartel-related financial activity, reinforcing regulators’ emphasis on identifying evolving criminal revenue streams beyond traditional drug trafficking. The alert also ties directly to concurrent Treasury sanctions actions, highlighting the growing convergence of AML, fraud, and sanctions compliance.
Official Sources:
FinCEN Alert on Fuel Smuggling and Tax Evasion Schemes
FinCEN Supplemental Alert (PDF)
Treasury Press Release on Related OFAC Actions