Background on the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF)
The Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF), under Mexico’s Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP), is set to introduce a new specialized directorate focused on combating criminal organizations. This move comes amidst the United States labeling transnational criminal organizations as terrorists and Mexico facing a GAFI evaluation this year.
Creation of the Dirección General Especializada en Organizaciones Delictivas
According to a presidential decree published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF), a new Dirección General Especializada en Organizaciones Delictivas is established, which will have two coordinations.
Objectives of the New Directorate
The new directorate will have various responsibilities, including:
- Analyzing information from reports, warnings, and declarations related to individuals possibly connected to criminal organizations and high-impact crimes.
- Integrating intelligence reports.
- Requesting and gathering information, documentation, data, and images from entities and individuals involved in vulnerable activities related to reports and warnings.
- Obtaining additional information from other individuals or sources to carry out its duties.
Furthermore, the directorate will participate in national and international coordination mechanisms, act as a liaison with relevant national and foreign authorities, jurisdictions, instances, and international or intergovernmental organizations for strategic coordination, cooperation, or collaboration actions to prevent high-impact crimes and those related to individuals possibly connected to criminal organizations.
Collaboration with Other Authorities
The new directorate will collaborate with:
- Fiscalía General de la República: Exchanging information and documentation, as well as disseminating intelligence products in national security and public safety matters according to signed collaboration and information exchange agreements.
- Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana: Exchanging information and documentation related to national security and public safety.
- Other relevant authorities: Providing, requesting, and exchanging necessary information and documentation with foreign competent authorities for the exercise of their duties.
UIF’s Recent Developments
On Tuesday, it was announced that the UIF, led by Pablo Gómez, along with Genaro García Luna’s associates, voluntarily withdrew a lawsuit without prejudice. This move does not affect the conviction against García Luna, his wife, and associated companies, as a post-conviction request would be pursued.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF)? The UIF is Mexico’s financial intelligence unit under the Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP), responsible for combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and other financial crimes.
- Why is the new directorate being established? The new Dirección General Especializada en Organizaciones Delictivas aims to strengthen Mexico’s efforts against criminal organizations, especially in light of the US labeling them as terrorists and Mexico’s upcoming GAFI evaluation.
- What are the new directorate’s responsibilities? The new directorate will analyze information, integrate intelligence reports, request and gather relevant data, collaborate with other authorities, and prevent high-impact crimes.
- What recent developments have occurred with the UIF? The UIF, led by Pablo Gómez, along with Genaro García Luna’s associates, voluntarily withdrew a lawsuit without prejudice.
