Treasury Department Sanctions Mexican Drug Cartels’ Fentanyl Suppliers

A Border Patrol agent checks an illegal immigrant who is wearing two wristbands that Mexican cartels have been using to control human smuggling into the United States, near Penitas, Texas, on March 15. 2021. Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned six Sinaloa Cartel members and six Mexico-based entities due to their involvement in the drug trade.

According to a Feb. 22 press release, brothers Ludim Zamudio Lerma and Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma lead a network allegedly responsible for diverting illicit precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and other drugs directly into the hands of Sinaloa Cartel members.

As a result of the OFAC’s action, property and interests in property in the United States or in the ownership or control of U.S. persons that belong to the people or groups sanctioned must be blocked and reported to OFAC (pdf).

“The Zamudio Lerma brothers and their network enable the production of synthetic drugs that devastate American lives while lining the pockets of Sinaloa Cartel leadership,” said OFAC Director Andrea Gacki.

“Depriving this network of access and resources will hinder the Sinaloa Cartel’s ability to produce and traffic the illicit drugs it depends on.”

OFAC regulations usually prohibit all transactions involving property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked people by U.S. persons or persons within or transiting the United States.

Individuals in the United States may face civil or criminal consequences for violating the sanctions. Furthermore, people who conduct certain transactions with the individuals and businesses listed may face fines or other repercussions.

Officials Address the Sanctions

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke about the sanctions, saying on Feb. 22 that the United States is determined to disrupt the global production and supply chain of illicit fentanyl.

“Today’s action is part of a whole-of-government effort to disrupt and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that facilitate the illicit supply of fentanyl and other narcotics,” Blinken said.

Republican-led states have asked the Biden administration to take action against the drug cartels. A coalition of 21 state attorneys general sent a letter to Blinken and President Joe Biden on Feb. 8, asking the Biden administration to designate and treat Mex­i­can drug car­tels as for­eign ter­ror­ist organizations (pdf).

“Mexican cartels are a main driver in the distribution of fentanyl and have used extreme violence to achieve their ends,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in reference to the request.

“Their heinous acts have caused the deaths of thousands of Americans—both directly and indirectly. The letter specifically references the actions of the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, while also recognizing other cartels ought to be designated as terrorist organizations as well.”

The Treasury Department did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.