U.S. Treasury Expands Sanctions on Sinaloa Cartel Affiliates
In a significant move to combat drug trafficking, the U.S. Treasury Department has imposed new sanctions on 23 individuals and entities connected to the notorious Sinaloa cartel. These sanctions effectively freeze their assets within the United States.
The scope of the sanctions is broad, affecting entities across two continents. Among those targeted are a chemical supplier headquartered in India and several import/export operations based in Guatemala.
According to the Treasury, these entities and individuals play crucial roles in supporting the extensive drug production and smuggling operations of the Sinaloa cartel. This crackdown follows last year’s decision by the Trump administration to classify several Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa group, as foreign terrorist organizations.
The recent actions taken by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) align with a prior State Department initiative that restricted U.S. visas for 75 individuals identified as associates or family members of Sinaloa cartel members.
The sanctions list includes pharmaceutical chemical suppliers from India accused of trading in fentanyl precursors. The Treasury notes that two individuals linked to these companies were detained by Indian authorities last year.
In Guatemala, the sanctions target individuals and businesses alleged to be involved in the import and export of precursor chemicals, some of which are sourced from the sanctioned Indian businesses.
Additionally, several individuals based in Mexico have been sanctioned for their alleged involvement in the drug supply chain linked to the Sinaloa cartel. The cartel, known for its internal divisions, has experienced violent conflicts between its factions in the state of Sinaloa for over 18 months.
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