According to the US, the shopping center was designated by OFAC because it was controlled “in part” by Abigael González Valencia, leader of the financial arm of the ‘four letter cartel’
Less than 10 kilometers away from the famous Akrón Stadium, located in Zapopan, Jalisco, is the Vista del Tule Fraccionamiento, an area that houses a shopping center linked to one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in Mexico: the Jalisco Cartel. New Generation (CJNG).
According to investigations carried out in recent years by the United States Department of the Treasury, the cartel led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho’, has managed to launder billions of dollars in its favor through dozens of companies and businesses located in various states of the country.
The reports indicate that those responsible for carrying out these operations (mainly) are ‘Los Cuinis’, a criminal group that was founded and led by Abigael González Valencia – brother-in-law of ‘El Mencho’ – and that is identified by the US as the financial arm of the CJNG.
Among the dozens of entities that the United States has identified and designated through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) include restaurants, a ticket office, boutiques, pharmaceutical companies, a record label and two shopping centers: Plaza Los Tules , in Jalisco, and Xaman Ha Center, in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo.
“Many of these Mexican entities have been dedicated to laundering money from drug trafficking and represent attempts by the CJNG and ‘Los Cuinis’ to integrate into the legal economy,” reads a 2019 OFAC report.
What is the link between Plaza Los Tules and the CJNG?
On August 19, 2015, the Treasury Department designated six Mexicans and 15 companies under accusation of being used to facilitate CJNG money laundering. Plaza Los Tules was on the list.
“OFAC designated Plaza Los Tules, which is now also known as Plaza Virreyes, in part because it is controlled by Abigael González Valencia,” reads one of the indictments.
Three years later, the United States also sanctioned the entities Yorv Inmobiliaria and Grupo Segtac, S.A. through OFAC. of C.V.; The first of them is identified as the administrator of the shopping center.
That same year, authorities also located several businesses that were part of the plaza and that also had ties to the CJNG, such as a bakery.
As a result of these actions, all assets that the designated people and companies had under US jurisdiction were frozen. In addition, it was prohibited for any US person or entity to carry out transactions with them.
Despite the sanctions imposed by the northern neighbor, Plaza Los Tules continues to operate normally. The information available indicates that it is open seven days a week and is located on Avenida Unidas, Vista del Tule.
Source: Infobae
