U.S. Treasury Sanctions Cartel Over Drug Trafficking, Fuel Theft

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three Mexican nationals and two trucking companies connected to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), targeting their involvement in fentanyl trafficking, fuel theft, and crude oil smuggling across the southern border. These actions aim to disrupt a network believed to generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually through illicit activities that benefit CJNG and facilitate violence in both Mexico and the United States. The sanctions, coordinated by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, block all U.S. property and interests tied to the individuals and firms involved, and were carried out with assistance from multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies and Mexican authorities. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described fuel theft and smuggling as major revenue streams for CJNG's 'narco-terrorist enterprise.' The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also issued an alert to financial institutions outlining red flags for crude-oil smuggling. The coordinated move follows the recent U.S. designation of CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization and reiterates the administration’s commitment to combatting drug cartels and foreign terrorist groups.