Banks| Policies| Dodgy Deals| Campaigns
About us| Blog| Publications| Successes| Contact us| Donate
About BankTrack
Visit us
Organisation
Our team
Our board
Guiding principles
Team up with us
Our annual reports
Funding and finances
History
BankTrack in the media
Our privacy policy
Donate
2022-07-26 00:00:00
How China’s new complaints procedures can prevent ‘green’ ESG investments from harming local communities
2022-07-19 00:00:00
Jackdaw shows once again Shell is failing on climate. So why are its bankers failing to act?
2022-07-15 00:00:00
Can we stop the funding of more plastics?
2022-07-12 00:00:00
From fisherman to refugee, in part thanks to ING
2022-05-20 15:14:47
Seven financiers abandon TotalEnergies' EACOP pipeline in a week
2021-12-16 13:33:02
Cambo oil field "paused" following pressure on Shell & banks
2021-12-16 13:04:42
Equator Principles improve transparency after BankTrack shows the way
2021-11-02 11:03:26
ANZ launches human rights grievance mechanism in a first for the global banking sector
Connect
2022-07-05 00:00:00
Assessment of East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and Associated Facilities’ Compliance with Equator Principles and IFC Performance Standards
2022-06-28 00:00:00
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP): Finance Risk Update No. 3
2022-04-05 00:00:00
The BankTrack Human Rights Benchmark Asia
2022-03-30 00:00:00
Banking on Climate Chaos 2022
2022-03-08 00:00:00
BankTrack Annual Report 2021
2022-03-03 00:00:00
Locked out of a Just Transition: fossil fuel financing in Africa
See all publications
Browse
Home
Banks
Policies
Dodgy Deals
Campaigns
About
About BankTrack
Donate
Contact BankTrack
Publications
Victories
Follow Us
News
BankTrack blog
Facebook
Twitter Fossil Banks No Thanks Twitter Fossil Banks No Thanks Instagram
Affiliate Websites
Fossil Banks No Thanks
StopEACOP
Forests & Finance
Banks & Biodiversity
Drop JBS
Bank of Coal
Don't Buy into Occupation
Home › News
SMX Collective files complaint against Rabobank over drug money laundering and human rights violations in Mexico
Start
Banks

By: Prakken d'Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers & SMX Collective
2017-02-02
Amsterdam

Contact:

SMX Collective, press@smxcollective.org, +31 6 267 813 15


Share this page:

Press conference SMX Collective. Photo: SMX Collective
Go to:
Start
Related Banks

SMX Collective, an initiative of the Dutch Foundation SMX: Dutch-Mexican Solidarity, assisted by the renowned law firm Prakken d’Oliveira, files a complaint against the Rabobank Group accusing the bank of laundering drug money and participating in a criminal organization. It concerns offenses committed at the local branch in Calexico, California, in the period December 2002 – Januari 2015. This complaint is the first of a series of activities promoted by SMX Collective to improve the human rights conditions in Mexico. 

The complaint is also filed on behalf of one of the family members of a victim of drugs violence in Mexico. The complaint exposes the relationship between the laundering of drug money by banks; and the murders, disappearances, torture and other crimes committed by drugs cartels in the North of Mexico. 

Gross neglect of anti-money laundering protocols

The Rabobank allegedly received enormous amounts of cash, which were transferred to other accounts as a way to disguise the criminal origins of the money. The complaint is directed against the Rabobank Group, as well as the managers of the bank. The Rabobank Group holds responsibility for its branches in the United States. 

Rabobank contributes to crimes against humanity in Mexico?

Rabobank is not the first bank to be accused of laundering drug money for Mexican cartels. However, this case marks the first time that the serious social and human rights consequences of money laundering for the Mexican civilian population are explicitly asked to be included in the criminal investigation. 

It is public knowledge that the laundering of drug money is a major problem in the border region of the United States and Mexico, and the Rabobank Group has been warned by US authorities on several occasions. Therefore, SMX Collective believes that the Rabobank Group has been insufficient in preventing money laundering and has seriously neglected its responsibility. Thus, the bank not only possibly played an important role in the laundering of drug money and thereby sustaining the drugs cartels; it has also possibly significantly contributed to the serious human rights violations being systematically perpetrated by Mexican drugs cartels. 

Launch of public campaign Money Laundering is not a Victimless Crime 

By filing the complaint at the Dutch Public Prosecutors office, SMX Collective launches the campaign Money Laundering is not a Victimless Crime which includes numerous actions to promote human rights in Mexico. The objective of the campaign is to call attention to the fact that drug money laundering is not a crime without victims. Furthermore, SMX Collective seeks justice for the victims by holding financial institutions and firms accountable for their criminal activities. Included you will find a summary of the complaint, background information on Mexico, as well as contact information for questions, comments and interviews. We appreciate your interest and are grateful for any help in spreading the information.

The full complaint is available on our campaign website and the website of Prakken d'Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers
 

Go to:
Start
Related Banks

Related banks

Rabobank Netherlands

active
Browse
Home
Banks
Policies
Dodgy Deals
Campaigns
About
About BankTrack
Donate
Contact BankTrack
Publications
Victories
Follow Us
News
BankTrack blog
Facebook
Twitter Fossil Banks No Thanks Twitter Fossil Banks No Thanks Instagram
Affiliate Websites
Fossil Banks No Thanks
StopEACOP
Forests & Finance
Banks & Biodiversity
Drop JBS
Bank of Coal
Don't Buy into Occupation
Vismarkt 15
6511 VJ Nijmegen
The Netherlands

Tel: +31 24 324 9220
Contact@banktrack.org
©2016 BankTrack                Webdesign by BankTrack and EASYmind
BankTrack is a registered charity in the Netherlands (ANBI) - RSIN 813874658
Find our privacy policy here

Stay up to date

Sign up now for all BankTrack's news


Make a comment

Your comment will be reviewed, before being posted