United States places financial restrictions on Los Mayos, a Sinaloa cartel division situated in Mexico
The U.S. Treasury Department has taken a significant step in its efforts to combat drug cartels, announcing sanctions against the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa cartel. This move is part of an ongoing campaign by the Trump administration to curb the influence of these criminal organisations.
Los Mayos, a faction loyal to Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, who recently pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in a U.S. federal court, is responsible for producing and trafficking fentanyl and other drugs from Mexico into the United States. The sanctions, which were announced by U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley, freeze all assets of those listed and block any transactions with them or related entities or businesses.
Hurley is currently in Mexico, meeting with Mexican authorities and business leaders to discuss strategies for combating drug trafficking, cartel operations, and illicit financing. The U.S. Treasury officials allege that Los Mayos is involved in criminal activities near the U.S.-Mexico border, using border areas in Baja California as key arteries for drug trafficking.
In addition to Los Mayos, the U.S. Treasury has also sanctioned five individuals, 15 companies, and another local gang affiliated with Los Mayos along the U.S.-Mexico border. Notably, the sanctions include Jesús 'El Chuy' Guerrero Chapa and Raúl 'El Dandy' Mejía González, key members of the Los Mayos faction.
The administration has also targeted banks alleged to facilitate money transfers for cartels, as well as a rapper accused of laundering money for the cartels. The sanctions against these entities aim to disrupt the financial networks that support these criminal organisations.
The sanctioning of Los Mayos is not only a financial blow but also a sign of the ongoing war for control in Sinaloa's capital. For over a year, Los Mayos has been locked into open warfare in the city of Culiacan with another faction of the cartel, Los Chapitos, led by sons of former Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzman.
The Trump administration has designated the Sinaloa cartel as a terrorist group earlier this year, reflecting the seriousness with which it views these organisations and their impact on U.S. security. The administration has also been pressuring Mexico's government to more aggressively pursue criminal groups, with Hurley's visit to Mexico serving as a symbol of this ongoing cooperation.
The main message Hurley will deliver is that the U.S. Treasury Department will not allow Mexico-based drug cartels to access the U.S. financial system. This sanctioning of Los Mayos is a clear demonstration of the U.S.'s commitment to this goal.
In Juan José Ponce Félix, the leader of Los Mayos' armed wing, the U.S. Treasury has also sanctioned the individual at the helm of Los Mayos' armed forces, further underscoring the severity of the action against this faction of the cartel.
As the war against drug cartels continues, the sanctions against Los Mayos mark a significant step in the U.S.'s efforts to disrupt the financial networks that support these criminal organisations. The ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico, exemplified by Hurley's visit, is crucial in this fight.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
