4 Key Takeaways from the Romanian Mafia in Mexico

[Judi Lynn]

MEXICO
/ 1 MAR 2021 BY KATYA BLESZYNSKA
EN

An investigation into a criminal group, led by Romanians based in Mexico and specialized in ATM skimming and credit card fraud, has continued to uncover fascinating details about how the group operated, including a network of political alliances.

In February, a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Mexico’s Financial Investigation Unit (Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera – UIF) led to accounts suspected of belonging to the Romanian group being frozen. According to the UIF, the gang’s substantial earnings from across Mexico involved operations worth $23 million inside Mexico, international transfers worth $24 million and other financial operations worth a colossal $231 million.

In total, the so-called Riviera Maya gang has stolen an estimated $1.2 billion over the past five years. Milenio reported the scheme as being “the biggest bank robbery ever seen in Mexico’s history.”

Mere days later, federal authorities announced suspected links between Florian Tudor, alias “El Tiburón” (The Shark), the gang’s Romanian leader, and a broad protection ring of Mexican politicians, including former governors of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, national lawmakers and local mayors of towns near Cancún.

More:
https://insightcrime.org/news/romanian-mafia-atm-skimming-mexico/