US imposes sanctions on Mexican cartel for drug trafficking, smuggling migrants

The US Treasury Department announced Thursday it imposed sanctions on top leaders of Mexico's La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug cartel.

The sanctions include eight Mexico-based individuals affiliated with the cartel for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine into the US, and smuggling migrants from Mexico into the US.

"La Nueva Familia Michoacana is one of the most powerful and violent cartels in Mexico and has become a priority focus of the Mexican government in recent years," the Treasury Department said in a statement.

In addition, the agency's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a Supplemental Advisory to highlight critical new information to help American banks and other financial institutions protect themselves against activity associated with the illicit fentanyl supply chain, it added.

"The opioid crisis, and especially the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, has devastated communities and claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. "President Biden and I are committed to using every tool we have to target illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals so we can disrupt these deadly supply chains."

The Treasury Department said it has sanctioned more than 250 targets in the last two years for their involvement in drug trafficking activities at all stages of the supply chain, from major cartel leaders to under-the-radar labs, transportation networks and chemical suppliers.