UIF freezes accounts over alleged irregularities in electoral material contracts in Mexico, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) has frozen the accounts of 25 individuals and 15 companies linked to suppliers of electoral material, after detecting financial movements considered high risk. The measures are part of an investigation into possible irregularities in contracts awarded by electoral bodies.
President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo said during a press conference that the inquiries also involve companies tied to brothers José Alfredo and Raymundo Hernández Casillas. According to the investigation presented by the federal government, the brothers built a network of companies that obtained multimillion-peso contracts to supply electoral materials.
UIF head Omar Reyes Colmenares explained that the movements detected include transfers of funds between accounts over short periods and transactions with persons who apparently have no commercial relationship with the investigated companies. These elements were considered risk indicators supporting the request to immobilize the funds.
The president clarified that investigations by the Tax Administration Service (SAT) and the UIF focus on possible money laundering operations involving funds from public contracts. She added that, so far, no evidence had been found that those involved belonged to an organized crime group.
She also said that if the inquiries identify sufficient evidence, the UIF may file complaints with the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), while the Superior Audit Office of the Federation (ASF) will review the contracting and possible administrative liabilities.
At the same press conference, Anti-Corruption and Good Government Secretary Raquel Buenrostro Sánchez presented background on the companies linked to the Hernández Casillas brothers. She said both had prior employment at the National Population Registry and the former Center for Investigation and National Security (CISEN) before entering business activities.
According to the investigation, companies linked to them have supplied electoral material since the late 1990s. Companies identified include Cartonera Plástica, Formas Finas y Materiales, Cajas Graf and Seriplast de México.
Buenrostro said that between 2015 and 2023, companies linked to the brothers obtained contracts worth approximately 2,094 million pesos in 23 of the 32 Local Electoral Public Bodies (OPLE). In addition, between 2024 and 2025, 15 bodies made contracts worth another 646.3 million pesos.
The official said the review detected possible schemes simulating competition, as well as matching addresses and phone numbers among some companies. Together, the amounts exposed total 2,740.3 million pesos over the periods cited.
In light of these findings, Sheinbaum called for greater transparency in electoral material procurement and stronger oversight mechanisms ahead of the 2027 elections. She also announced that next week she will present a decree to strengthen Talleres Gráficos de México, aiming to expand its production capacity and ensure greater transparency in the production and distribution of electoral materials.
