The Financial Connection in the Tax Evasion Network
The sophisticated networks of fiscal huachicol, a term that describes complex tax evasion and fraud schemes, have reached high-level financial entities, according to official documentation. Criminal case 325/2025, issued on August 19, 2025, includes an arrest warrant against thirteen individuals, among whom is Vice Admiral Manuel Roberto Farías Laguna, currently held in the Altiplano prison. At the center of this investigation appearsGrupo Potesta, S.A. de C.V., a company whose financial operations present serious inconsistencies.
A comprehensive analysis carried out by six members of the Federal Criminal Intelligence Center (CFIC) detected at least 555 companies linked to fuel smuggling and tax evasion activities. Scrutiny of Grupo Potesta’s financial flows revealed a significant discrepancy between its reported income and its operating structure. During fiscal year 2023, the company reported having just eight employees. However, their declared cumulative income amounted to 87,008,923 pesos. This substantial disproportion between reported payroll and revenue volume suggests a deliberate omission in earnings reporting, indicating probable large-scale tax fraud.
Vector Brokerage House: The Operational Nexus
The investigation delves into Grupo Potesta’s operations, identifying its main suppliers and business partners. The judicial document establishes that the firm entered into operations with various entities, among which a transaction for 220 million pesos with Vector Casa de Bolsa, S.A. stands out. de C.V., a financial institution owned by the former head of the Office of the Presidency, Alfonso Romo. The analysis suggests that, through this financial institution, Grupo Potesta could have been channeling resources to other entities or international jurisdictions with the declared objective of hiding the origin and destination of the funds, a practice associated with money laundering.
The modus operandi identified by the authorities describes a first pattern where the fuel is purchased in the United States and subsequently imported to Mexico and sold to various companies. These firms are responsible for the final distribution through a network of marketers and transporters, selling the fuel at a price significantly lower than that established in the national market, distorting competition and evading tax obligations.
International Background: Money Laundering Allegations
This is not the first incident that stains the reputation of Vector Casa de Bolsa. In June 2025, the United States Department of the Treasury announced significant measures under the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The agency identified three financial institutions based in Mexico—CIBanco, Intercam and Vector Casa de Bolsa—for their alleged participation in money laundering activities related to illicit opioid trafficking.
The US Treasury noted that these three institutions were of “principal concern” and, consequently, prohibited “certain transfers of funds” in which they were involved. The official statement detailed that CIBanco and Intercam, commercial banks with more than $7 billion and $4 billion in total assets, respectively, and Vector, a brokerage firm that manages almost $11 billion in assets, have collectively played a “vital and long-standing role in laundering millions of dollars on behalf of Mexico-based cartels.”
Specifically about Vector, FinCEN determined that the firm facilitated “money laundering activities of Mexico-based cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Gulf Cartel.” In addition, he is accused of having facilitated the acquisition of chemical precursors from China for illicit purposes, directly linked to the production of fentanyl.
The conjunction of these investigations, both national and international, paints a picture of deep vulnerabilities in the financial system and the imperative need to strengthen supervision and control mechanisms to prevent institutions of this type from being used as vehicles for the illicit economy and tax fraud.
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