U.S. imposes penalties on senior figures of the Jalisco Cartel due to accusations of fraudulent activities.
In a significant move to combat organized crime, the Trump Administration has announced sanctions against several individuals and companies based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for their alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar timeshare fraud scheme targeting elderly U.S. citizens [1][4].
The sanctions, imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target four individuals and 13 businesses near Puerto Vallarta. These entities are accused of working with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) to defraud American citizens through timeshare scams [1][4]. However, it's important to note that the sanctions do not specifically name high-ranking members of the cartel.
The sanctions are part of a broader strategy to disrupt the cartel's financial networks and alternative revenue streams, such as fuel theft and extortion [3][4]. The CJNG, known for its violent tactics and involvement in drug trafficking, fuel theft, and extortion, has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Department of State on February 20, 2025 [4].
Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, serves as a strategic stronghold for the CJNG. The corporate network of the sanctioned businessman includes a travel agency and real estate activities. The allegations against the cartel members involve scams that generate "significant" income, causing financial and emotional devastation to victims.
The sanctions were announced on Wednesday, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stating that the U.S. will continue efforts to eliminate the cartel's ability to generate income [4]. Meanwhile, in a separate development, a forest fire was stabilized overnight between Amer and Susqueda in Girona.
On a different note, Unai Simón expressed his opinion that Villarreal-Barça in Miami lacked respect for the fans, and Trump announced that gold imports will not be subject to tariffs.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mexico-cartel-timeshare/u-s-sanctions-mexican-companies-linked-to-timeshare-scams-idUSKBN2BQ1LG [2] https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/15/politics/trump-gold-tariffs/index.html [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/us/politics/trump-cartel-sanctions.html [4] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58686972
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