Mexico’s banking regulator imposed 52 monetary penalties worth a combined 185 million pesos (about US$10 million) on CIBanco, Intercam Banco and brokerage Vector Casa de Bolsa, saying the firms failed to maintain adequate controls to prevent money-laundering. Intercam absorbed the largest share of the fines, about 92 million pesos, followed by CIBanco with roughly 67 million pesos and Vector with 26 million pesos. The enforcement action builds on the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores’ decision on 26 June to take temporary management of the three institutions after the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network labelled them “primary money-laundering concerns” linked to fentanyl-related organised crime and blocked certain transactions with them. The U.S. measures effectively sever the lenders from the American financial system. The CNBV said its takeover and fines are intended to protect depositors and strengthen compliance while it completes a broader review. The banks, which together hold about US$22 billion in assets, deny wrongdoing and say they are cooperating with Mexican and U.S. authorities. FinCEN has given the firms until 4 September to comply with its order before restrictions are fully enforced.