They laundered drug money in casinos/US sanctions Luftar Hysa's family members

2025-11-13 18:11:00, Aktualitet CNA

They laundered drug money in casinos/US sanctions Luftar Hysa's family

The United States has sanctioned members of the Albanian Hysa family, who are accused of laundering money obtained from criminal activities in several businesses. The sanctioned individuals are Luftar Hysa's family members, specifically Arben Hysa, Ramiz Hysa, Fatos Hysa and Fabjon Hysa.

The US Treasury Department's announcement states that this criminal group has used its influence through investments in or control over various businesses based in Mexico, including gambling establishments and restaurants, to launder proceeds from drug trafficking.

It is reported that the US has also imposed sanctions on a number of businesses and companies linked to the Hysa organized crime group. The announcement states that this criminal group operates with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel, which maintains criminal control over most of the territory where the group carries out its activities.

Excerpt from the announcement:

Today, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) joined the Government of Mexico in targeting the Hysa Organized Crime Group and numerous Mexico-based gambling establishments involved in cartel-related money laundering and a host of other criminal activities throughout Mexico and Europe. This coordinated action is the result of recent U.S.-Mexico commitments, made during the trip of Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley, to work more closely together to combat drug trafficking and related financial crime by Mexico-based drug cartels and other groups.

OFAC today sanctioned 27 individuals and entities, and FinCEN proposed a special measure to terminate the access of 10 Mexican-based gambling institutions to the U.S. financial system due to money laundering concerns.

OFAC SANCTIONS TARGETING THE HYSA ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP

The Hysa Organized Crime Group (HOCG), which includes family members Luftar Hysa ( Luftar ), Arben Hysa ( Arben ), Ramiz Hysa ( Ramiz ), Fatos Hysa ( Fatos ), and Fabjon Hysa ( Fabjon ), has used its influence through investments in or control over various businesses based in Mexico - including gambling establishments and restaurants - to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking. The HOCG is believed to operate with the consent of the Sinaloa Cartel, which maintains criminal control over much of the territory where the group operates.

Luftari, based between Mexico and Canada, is often seen in public media as a key member of the Hysa family, giving public interviews about his family’s businesses in Mexico and Europe. Luftari, Fatosi, Arbeni and Fabjoni worked closely with a U.S. person to launder money, including moving large amounts of cash from Mexico to the United States, where the U.S. person’s company was used to launder the funds. Luftari and Arbeni used a European-based entity to enrich themselves by laundering illicit funds belonging to suspected drug traffickers. Luftari also owns or directs several companies used by HOCG.

Arbeni owns or directs several companies used by HOCG in Mexico. Arbeni has also been involved in smuggling large amounts of cash into the United States for money laundering purposes, as well as using gambling establishments and upscale restaurants in Mexico to launder drug money.

Ramiz has been involved in using gambling establishments and luxury restaurants in Mexico as fronts for laundering proceeds from drug sales.

Fatos, along with Luftari, Arbeni, and Fabjoni, was involved in smuggling cash into the United States for the purpose of money laundering. Fatos and Fabjoni were also involved in using an entity based in Europe to enrich themselves by laundering illicit funds belonging to suspected drug traffickers.

With today’s action, OFAC is also targeting several individuals and entities within the HOCG network. Entretenimiento Palmero, SA de CV , based in Mexico and owned by Arben, is central to HOCG’s operations. Mexican national Gilberto Lopez Lopez acts as its commission agent. Albanian national but based in Mexico, Eselda Baku (formerly Eselda Hysa), Ramiz’s daughter, serves on the Board of Directors. Other companies targeted by this action include:

Bliri SA de CV (Mexico)
Cucina Del Porto SA de CV (Mexico)
Diversiones Los Mochis SA de CV (Mexico)
El Arte de Cocinas y Beber SA de CV (Mexico)
Entretenimiento Villahermosa SA de CV . (Mexico)
Entretenimiento Y Espectaculos BCSA de CV (Mexico)
Grupo Internacional Canhysamex SA de CV (Mexico)
H Hidrocarburos SA de CV (Mexico)
Hysa Forwarders SA de CV (Mexico)
LH Pro-Gaming SA de CV (Mexico)
LH Rental SA De CV (Mexico)
Operadora Alejil SA De CV (Mexico)
Operadora de Empresas LH SA de CV (Mexico)
Procesadora de Alimentos Hs SA de CV (Mexico)
Rosetta Gaming SA de CV (Mexico)
Hysa Holdings Inc (Canada)
Rosetta Gaming Inc (Canada)
Rosetta Gaming SP ZOO (Poland). /CNA