Mexico's UIF freezes accounts of businessman Gerardo Sánchez Zumaya

Mexico's Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) has frozen the bank accounts of businessman Gerardo Sánchez Zumaya, a former gubernatorial aspirant for San Luis Potosí representing the Morena and Labor Party (PT) coalition. Alberto Anaya, national leader of the PT, claimed the freeze forced Sánchez Zumaya to abandon his political ambitions and stated the businessman is currently abroad as a political refugee.

Legal challenges have emerged following the freeze, with several individuals and entities linked to Sánchez Zumaya filing injunctions against the UIF. Among them is Grupo Mineral & Logistic (GML), a company that reportedly increased its social capital significantly in late 2025 and subsequently received contracts from Pemex.

The investigation involves allegations of a fraudulent invoicing network. Records indicate that Pemex and the Mexican Petroleum Institute paid over 2.8 billion pesos to three companies allegedly linked to Sánchez Zumaya. The case also involves connections to Senator Adán Augusto López through a notary in Tabasco and mentions Héctor Manuel Portales Ávila, a relative of Sánchez Zumaya who has testified before the Attorney General's Office regarding organized crime and bribery.