Finance

Cartel Received Tax Break from Mexican Government, Says Watchdog

By Daniel M

October 23, 2019

Mexico gave a substantial tax break to a company owned by a convicted money launderer with Los Zetas Cartel, an anti-corruption organization stated in their latest report. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) denied the assertion and claimed it was a bad faith effort to tarnish his administration.

Mexicanos Contra La Corrupcion y La Impunidad (MCCI) recently argued that Mexico’s Tax Office (SAT) gave a break of $92,561,000 pesos or $4.8 million USD to a gas station in Saltillo, Coahuila, owned by Juan Manuel “El Mono” Munoz, a convicted Los Zetas money launderer. The report released this week said Munoz owns a majority share of Mira Sierra, which benefited from a tax debt forgiveness procedure.

Munoz previously faced several indictments in the Western District of Texas in a money laundering case. Earlier this year, Munoz took part in a plea deal and became an informant in exchange for a lesser sentence. Munoz was also linked to former Coahuila Governor Humberto Moreira who was arrested and released in Spain in connection with his alleged dealings with Los Zetas.