On April 16, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) amended a 2025 order to support Mexican authorities’ efforts to liquidate CIBanco S.A., Institución de Banca Multiple. According to the amendment, FinCEN is allowing “certain transmittals of funds to facilitate payments necessary for the Government of Mexico to liquidate CIBanco.”
On June 25, 2025, FinCEN issued an order prohibiting covered financial institutions from engaging in “certain transmittals of funds” with CIBanco and two other Mexico-based financial institutions after identifying them as being of primary money laundering concern for their involvement with illicit opioid trafficking. FinCEN reported that the drug trafficking was facilitated by Mexico-based cartels that have also been designated in the United States as drug trafficking organizations. On June 26, 2025, in response to the orders, the Government of Mexico announced that it was implementing measures to temporarily intervene in the management of CIBanco and one other bank.
According to FinCEN, these orders were the first that FinCEN imposed pursuant to the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. Section 2313a of the Act enables the Secretary of the Treasury to determine if “reasonable grounds exist for concluding” that certain foreign financial institutions have engaged in money laundering in connection with illegal opioid trafficking. If such a finding is made, the Act authorizes the Secretary to require covered financial institutions to take certain “special measures” in order to safeguard the U.S. financial system. According to the amendment, the Secretary has delegated the authority to administer section 2313a to FinCEN.
Amendment of Order | FinCEN Press Release (June 2025) | Government of Mexico Press Release (June 2025)