Treasury Sanctions International Drug Network Tied to Sinaloa Cartel

‘Terrorist cartels will not be allowed to wreak havoc on our borders and in our communities,’ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent walks between barrels with chemicals used to create synthetic drugs like methamphetamine at the end of a news conference by federal authorities in Pasadena, Texas, on Sept. 3, 2025. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

The Treasury Department has introduced sanctions on 23 individuals and organizations involved in a sophisticated synthetic‑opioid procurement network connected to a Mexican crime syndicate.

Designated as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025, the Sinaloa Cartel is one of the biggest drug-trafficking groups in the world, operating in Mexico and Latin America. It also specializes in a wide array of drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.