US Sanctions Businesses Linked to Sinaloa Cartel

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on two businesses in Mexico—a chain of ice cream shops and a pharmacy—linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, which is heavily involved in fentanyl trafficking. These sanctions are part of broader efforts to combat the influx of illicit drugs and human trafficking into the United States, with the Sinaloa Cartel being a significant contributor to fentanyl-related overdoses, which resulted in over 107,000 deaths in 2023 alone. The businesses were allegedly established using proceeds from drug trafficking, highlighting the cartel's strategy of laundering money through seemingly legitimate operations. Additionally, five leaders from Colombia's Clan del Golfo, another major drug trafficking organization, were also sanctioned. The actions are coordinated with the Mexican government, focusing on addressing the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the U.S. and reinforcing international cooperation against drug trafficking networks.