The U.S. Treasury Department is set to announce sanctions against individuals and entities linked to a violent Mexico-based drug trafficking cartel, a significant step in the ongoing fight against the deadly fentanyl crisis. The sanctions, expected to be announced on Tuesday, will target a fuel theft network that generates tens of millions of dollars for the Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) cartel. This network provides crucial funding for the cartel’s operations, including the trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into the United States.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control will be targeting nine Mexican nationals and 26 Mexico-based entities associated with the fuel theft operations. This action was coordinated with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Mexican government, including their financial intelligence unit. The Treasury’s move highlights the growing concern over the cartel’s expansion and their role in the devastating fentanyl crisis.
The CJNG, considered one of the most dangerous cartels in Mexico, has increasingly relied on fuel theft in recent years, causing significant losses to the Mexican government. The cartel’s diverse revenue streams, including fuel theft, ultimately enhance their ability to traffic fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo stressed the Biden administration’s commitment to disrupting the funding and operations of these cartels. “Treasury will continue to use its expertise and tools to target relentlessly drug trafficking gangs to make our communities safer and keep poisonous drugs like fentanyl off our streets,” Adeyemo stated.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has become a major public health crisis in the U.S., causing the deaths of over 70,000 Americans annually. The drug is often laced into other drugs or disguised as counterfeit pills, making it even more dangerous as users may not be aware of its presence. The primary source of fentanyl in the U.S. is Mexico, where it is produced by cartels using precursors from China and then shipped across the U.S. land border.
The Biden administration has launched a global coalition to address the fentanyl threat, collaborating with countries like Mexico to crack down on smugglers and regulate precursor chemicals. In addition to the latest sanctions, the Treasury Department has also implemented other measures, such as the Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force launched by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in 2022. This force aims to disrupt financial networks supporting cartel operations and combat money laundering associated with drug trafficking.
The U.S. government is committed to combating the fentanyl crisis, recognizing the urgent need to address this issue. This latest move against the CJNG cartel’s fuel theft network demonstrates a significant effort to disrupt the cartel’s funding and operations, thereby contributing to the fight against the deadly drug trade.
