The U.S. administration has decided to impose sanctions on 6 individuals and 7 companies involved in supporting the Sinaloa cartel’s money laundering network. During the operation carried out in the country, 17 people were deported.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the Sinaloa cartel is responsible for the majority of illegal fentanyl and other drugs entering the U.S., using many entry points along the southern border for criminal activities. The statement indicated that sanctions were imposed on 6 individuals and 7 companies involved in the money laundering network that provided financial support to the Sinaloa cartel. The announcement mentioned that the sanction decision was made following a coordinated investigation involving the Southern District of California Prosecutors, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Mexican government, revealing that one high-ranking member of the cartel was among those targeted by the sanctions. In a statement attributed to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, it was stressed that the laundered drug money is the “lifeblood” of the Sinaloa cartel’s drug-terrorism activities. Bessent emphasized that the Treasury Department, in collaboration with all government agencies to address this national security threat, will utilize all available tools to target anyone supporting the cartels’ criminal and violent campaigns.
TERROR FIGHTING OPERATION
Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 17 individuals from the ‘Tren de Aragua’ and ‘MS-13’ gangs were deported as part of the counterterrorism operation they conducted. In a written statement regarding the operation, Rubio reminded that U.S. President Donald Trump declared ‘Tren de Aragua’ and ‘MS-13’ as foreign terrorist organizations, stating, “These criminals will no longer be able to terrorize our communities and citizens.” Rubio noted that 17 ‘vicious criminals’ who were members of the ‘Tren de Aragua’ and ‘MS-13’ organizations were deported in the counterterrorism operation carried out last night in conjunction with El Salvador, expressing gratitude for their partnership.