Summary of FinCEN Supplemental Alert on Fuel Smuggling and Tax Evasion Schemes on the Southern Border Associated with Mexico-Based Cartels
Updated 09/03/2026
FinCEN is warning financial institutions about fuel smuggling schemes operated by Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Sinaloa Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and other Mexico-based criminal organizations. This activity involves purchasing fuel in the United States (U.S.), smuggling it into Mexico, evading Mexican fuel taxes, and laundering the proceeds through U.S. and Mexican financial system; this is also known as fiscal fuel theft. Within the alert FinCEN has identified 22 red flag indicators to help in the detection, prevention, and reporting of suspicious activity related to fiscal fuel theft schemes at the southern border.
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