Unmasking the Alleged Connection Between Tobacco Cartel and Jalisco Cartel

Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – In a letter to Janet Yellen, the US Treasury Secretary, five US senators have called for sanctions against Tobacco International Holdings Switzerland due to its alleged connections with the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) and the production of fentanyl.

Senators Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Rick Scott, Bill Hagerty, and Bill Cassidy, the authors of the letter, requested that the company and all of its subsidiaries and affiliates be blacklisted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The senators claimed that the corporation, also known as the Tobacco Cartel, has established a corruption network.

A 2018 journalistic investigation by Carlos Puig and Galia García Palafox, published in Milenio, disclosed how individuals connected to the company impersonated officials and used fraudulent documents to threaten distributors who were not associated with its brands. The goal was to eliminate competition and monopolize the market.

However, the company’s influence reportedly extends beyond the tobacco industry, as it is suspected of aiding the illicit activities of the Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes cartel, known as “El Mencho”, particularly in fentanyl trafficking.

Tobacco International Holdings Switzerland is officially registered in Geneva, Switzerland, with José Guadalupe Varela González as its founder and CEO. The company expanded to Guadalajara, Jalisco, in 2017, as per the Public Registry of Commerce records.

Around this time, false operations linked to the company began to surface, and another significant name, Carlos Cedano Filippini, emerged in this criminal network.

Witnesses cited by Milenio implicated Cedano Filippini in the intimidation of distributors and even identified him as a possible company associate. In 2018, Martha Tagle, then a deputy of Movimiento Ciudadano, requested federal authorities to investigate the company for potential tax evasion and illegal operations.

Tagle revealed that Carlos Cedano Filippini served as a commander of the now-defunct Federal Investigation Agency (AFI) in 2006 and had been deployed to several states, including Veracruz, Tabasco, Jalisco, and Michoacán.

In 2008, he was apprehended by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) during a drug trafficking investigation, carrying around $600,000 which he could not account for. He was prosecuted but later released after posting a $2 million bail.

Cedano Filippini was extradited back to Mexico and, after being held in Nayarit for organized crime and illegal operations, was transferred to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) and dispatched to Michoacán. In 2016, a self-defense group member in the state identified him as the agent chosen by then-Attorney General Martín Godoy to negotiate with the CJNG.

In May 2022, a report by Amílcar Salazar disclosed that Carlos Cedano Filippini and his brothers, Hugo Antonio and Genaro, were allegedly not only extorting merchants on behalf of the CJNG, but also manufacturing TIH cigars through companies including Braxico Manufacturing, Sijara International Manufacturing, and Burley & Virginia Tabaco Company.

In November 2020, this network of companies obtained licenses for over 50 tobacco brands in Mexico, such as Económicos, Laredo, Link, Cherokee, Studio 54, Península, Roma, and Senator.

The US senators, however, voiced their concerns about the potential impacts of this alliance between the Tobacco Cartel and CJNG on public health and security in the US.

They highlighted the substantial revenues that this network could provide for the “Mencho” cartel, suggesting that the production and sale of cigarettes could serve as a legal facade to boost their profits and fund their other operations.

In their letter to the Treasury Department, the senators underscored that the Mexican tobacco industry raked in an estimated $4 billion (over 70 billion pesos) in sales in 2019. They pointed out, “Even a fraction of these sales could finance an unacceptable escalation of CJNG’s fentanyl trafficking operations.”

Using this rationale, they called for OFAC to impose sanctions on TIH, José Guadalupe Varela González, and the Cedano Filippini brothers. They argued that freezing their assets and initiating investigations against them could significantly contribute to the fight against fentanyl.

The senators’ letter reflects their belief that the illicit activities of these entities and individuals pose a significant threat not only to the economic landscape but also to public health and security. The outcome of their plea for sanctions remains to be seen, as it is now in the hands of the Treasury Department to determine the course of action.



Trending News on PVDN

  • Two More Puerto Vallarta Beaches Are Awarded Blue FlagsTwo More Puerto Vallarta Beaches Are Awarded Blue Flags Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - In the upcoming 2023-2024 season, Puerto Vallarta is set to host six beaches awarded with the Blue Flag accreditation, an esteemed international recognition for high environmental and quality standards. The Blue Flag committee has reconfirmed the status for four previously certified beaches while conferring this prestigious title to two new beaches…
  • Tactical Groups Are Added to the Streets and Beaches of Puerto VallartaTactical Groups Are Added to the Streets and Beaches of Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - As a component of the safety strategies initiated at the Citizen Security Police Station, members from the Tactical Operations Group (GOT) have been bolstering street patrols all over Puerto Vallarta. Following directives from Commissioner Rigoberto Flores Parra and Mayor Luis Alberto Michel Rodríguez, these officers ensure a visible and protective presence…
  • Popocatépetl Volcano Resumes Activity; Authorities Maintain Alert StatusPopocatépetl Volcano Resumes Activity; Authorities Maintain Alert Status PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - After a period of relative calm last week, Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano resumed minor activity on Friday night and through Saturday night, as reported by the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC). This comes following significant explosions last weekend that put nearby communities on high alert. The resumed activity was characterized by minor…
  • Puerto Vallarta Set to Celebrate 105th Anniversary as Municipality and 55th as a City with Grand FestivitiesPuerto Vallarta Set to Celebrate 105th Anniversary as Municipality and 55th as a City with Grand Festivities PUERTO VALLARTA - The coastal paradise of Puerto Vallarta is poised to celebrate two landmark anniversaries: the 105th anniversary of its recognition as a municipality and the 55th anniversary of its elevation to city status, with a grand commemoration on May 31, 2023. The celebrations have been meticulously planned by the municipal government led by…
  • Mothers Searching For Their Missing Children Uncover Presumed Clandesant Grave in Puerto VallartaMothers Searching For Their Missing Children Uncover Presumed Clandesant Grave in Puerto Vallarta PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - A team of mothers seeking their missing children made a chilling discovery on the outskirts of Puerto Vallarta Saturday afternoon: a skeleton, fragments of bones, and several indications pointing towards a potential site of illegal body disposal. The area of discovery, located near the road to Viejo el Veladero, close to…
  • American Tourist In Critical Condition in Puerto Vallarta After Wave Breaks His NeckAmerican Tourist In Critical Condition in Puerto Vallarta After Wave Breaks His Neck Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - "Experiencing your sibling in critical care, confessing your love to him, anticipating the worst... it's a nightmare no one should have to endure," shared Adam Griffis. Adam's younger brother, Evan, is struggling for survival in a medical facility located in Puerto Vallarta. The 30-year-old experienced a freak accident while swimming last…
  • Recent Protests Disrupt 40% of Puerto Vallarta’s EconomyRecent Protests Disrupt 40% of Puerto Vallarta’s Economy Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - Tourism, a critical sector of Puerto Vallarta's economy, has been severely affected by protests, suffering both reputational damage and direct harm to visitors. Alejandro Torres Magaña, General Manager of the Puerto Vallarta Hotel and Motel Association, cited missed flights and hotel delays as significant issues.
  • Volcanic eruptions in Mexico and the dangers of fetishizing natural disastersVolcanic eruptions in Mexico and the dangers of fetishizing natural disasters Ash from the volcano has been falling heavily for a few weeks now, but Sunday was much worse. Nevertheless, many people still had to work outside all day, despite the hazards. The fish and vegetable street vendors were working, a woman was pacing up and down my street selling flower bouquets, the pizza and taco…
  • 'Kingdoms of Mexico' Distinction Launches to Boost Tourist Destinations With European Influences‘Kingdoms of Mexico’ Distinction Launches to Boost Tourist Destinations With European Influences Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - Miguel Torruco Marqués, the head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur), introduced the new 'Kingdoms of Mexico' distinction, a major initiative designed to enhance the appeal of Mexico's tourist communities on an international level. The announcement came during a presentation attended by the governors of Tlaxcala, Lorena Cuéllar Cisneros; Baja California,…
  • Puerto Vallarta News Brief with Felipe Alvarez for May 26, 2023Puerto Vallarta News Brief with Felipe Alvarez for May 26, 2023 Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - The Puerto Vallarta News Brief covers the top trending stories of the week on Vallarta Daily News and is hosted by Felipe Alvarez.

Compare Listings

Title Price Status Type Area Purpose Bedrooms Bathrooms