MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded sharply Thursday to U.S. authorities sanctions blocking transfers from three Mexican monetary establishments, saying Washington hasn’t proven proof of its allegations of cash laundering.
The U.S. Treasury Division introduced the sanctions Wednesday on the banks CIBanco and Intercam Banco and the brokerage Vector Casa de Bolsa, alleging that that they had facilitated hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in cash transfers for Mexican drug cartels.
Sheinbaum stated throughout her morning information briefing Thursday that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had confirmed no proof proving that the establishments carried out any cash laundering, regardless of repeated requests for such proof.
“The Treasury Division hasn’t offered a single piece of proof to point out that any cash laundering was going down,” she stated. “We aren’t going to cowl for anybody, there isn’t impunity right here. They’ve to have the ability to reveal that there was truly cash laundering, not with phrases, however with sturdy proof.”
The accused banks additionally fired again on the orders, rejecting the allegations and equally citing an absence of proof.
Brokerage agency Vector stated Wednesday evening in an announcement that it “categorically rejects any allegation that compromises its institutional integrity” whereas Intercam stated in an announcement it denies being concerned in any “unlawful observe.” Vector is owned by entrepreneur Alfonso Romo, who served as chief of employees to ex-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador early in his presidency.
Manuel Somoza, president of methods of CIBanco, informed native press that they solely heard concerning the order the identical time it was made public, and famous that it wasn’t a proper authorized accusation, however relatively an investigation.
“Our books are open,” he stated. ”Rumors are clearly damaging, whether or not they’re true or not. So, what we wish is for (American authorities) to come back and examine.”
Sheinbaum stated they had been notified by American officers of the accusations forward of the Wednesday announcement, and that Mexican monetary regulators carried out their very own investigations into the establishments.
They discovered “administrative infractions,” she stated, however nothing near the accusations being levied by Treasury officers.
Within the orders blocking transactions between the three establishments and American banks, the Trump administration alleged that the three corporations facilitated hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in transfers with Chinese language corporations, which it stated had been used to purchase chemical compounds to supply fentanyl. The Treasury Division stated the establishments had facilitated transfers to U.S. banks, however officers wouldn’t title which U.S. establishments had been implicated nor present extra particulars.
Sheinbaum countered that their very own investigation merely confirmed that establishments had sturdy relationships with Chinese language shoppers and banks, which she stated was extra of an indicator that the 2 international locations share a strong commerce relationship. China has been the primary supply of chemical precursors to supply fentanyl in Mexico, in accordance with U.S. authorities. On the identical time, the U.S. has more and more sought to dam rising Chinese language affect and funding in Latin America.
The chief additionally expressed frustration on Thursday morning, reminding Trump officers that Mexico is a sovereign nation and should be handled as an equal by the U.S. authorities.
“We’re nobody’s piñata,” she stated. “Mexico should be revered.”