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Ricardo Velarde: Former Sinaloa Economy Secretary faces account freeze and FGR investigation
The Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) has frozen the bank accounts of Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas, the former Secretary of Economy for Sinaloa, along with his business partner Jorge Armando Lizárraga Angulo and at least six related companies. The freeze targets entities in the tourism, restaurant, and construction sectors.
Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed that the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) has opened an investigation into Velarde following a formal complaint by the UIF. Harfuch noted that the investigation is specifically focused on the financial operations of Velarde and his associated businesses.
Velarde, known as ‘Pity,’ resigned from his government post in October 2025 following the disappearance of Carlos Emilio Galván, a young man who was last seen at Terraza Valentinos, a bar in Mazatlán co-owned by Velarde.
Velarde attempted to challenge the account freeze through an amparo (legal protection) in Mexico City, but the Fifth District Court in Administrative Matters declared itself incompetent due to territorial jurisdiction, ordering the case to be transferred to federal courts in Sinaloa.
Entities
Fiscalía General de la República · Jorge Armando Lizárraga Angulo · Omar García Harfuch · Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas · Rubén Rocha Moya · Sinaloa · Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 11 SOURCES] Carlos Emilio Galván disappeared in October 2025 at the Terraza Valentinos bar in Mazatlán. nuevolaredo.tv · estado21.com · www.elbuentono.com.mx · www.am.com.mx · diario.mx · +6 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The UIF froze the bank accounts of Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas. nuevolaredo.tv · estado21.com · www.elbuentono.com.mx · lineadirectaportal.com · www.am.com.mx · +7 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) has opened an investigation into Ricardo Velarde. lineadirectaportal.com · diario.mx · eldiariodechihuahua.mx · lucesdelsiglo.com · www.sdpnoticias.com
- [● 10 SOURCES] The court in Mexico City declared itself incompetent to resolve Velarde's amparo due to territorial reasons. nuevolaredo.tv · estado21.com · www.elbuentono.com.mx · lineadirectaportal.com · diario.mx · +5 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The UIF froze accounts belonging to business partner Jorge Armando Lizárraga Angulo and at least six related companies. lineadirectaportal.com · www.am.com.mx · diario.mx · eldiariodechihuahua.mx · www.expreso.com.mx · +3 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Velarde resigned as Secretary of Economy of Sinaloa in October 2025. nuevolaredo.tv · estado21.com · www.elbuentono.com.mx · lineadirectaportal.com · www.am.com.mx · +7 more