US Sanctions 2 Mexican Cartels, Members for Drug Trafficking
The U.S. this week sanctioned Mexican cartels Carteles Unidos and Los Viagras along with seven people that it said work closely with the cartels and are linked to terrorism, drug trafficking and extortion.
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The Office of Foreign Assets Control said the two cartels are responsible for “significant bloodshed” in Mexico and the U.S. through drug trafficking and violence. Carteles Unidos, which the U.S. labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February (see 2502190011), traffics opioids into the U.S. and has attacked Mexican civilians and law enforcement, OFAC said, while Los Viagras traffics methamphetamine, cocaine and has extorted avocado and citrus growers, cattle ranchers, and “entire towns” to generate revenue.
The U.S. also sanctioned Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, the head of Carteles Unidos; Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, a regional leader; Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, a recruiter; and Edgar Valeriano Orozco Cabadas, who oversees hitmen for the cartel. It also sanctioned Nicolas Sierra Santana, a founder of Los Viagras, along with two other key members: Heladio Cisneros Flores and Cesar Alejandro Sepulveda Arellano.
Along with the designations, DOJ indicted Farias Alvarez, Fernandez Magallon, Barragan Chavez, Orozco Cabadas and Sierra Santana on drug trafficking and weapons charges. The agency said they carried out decadeslong conspiracies to make and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl for import into the U.S. They face maximum penalties of up to life in prison.
The State Department is offering up to $26 million in combined rewards for information leading to their arrests or convictions.