meta_id 3169991

On May 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned more than a dozen individuals and entities linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and its fentanyl trafficking operations. The action targeted two distinct networks: one led by Armando de Jesus Ojeda Aviles, involved in laundering proceeds from fentanyl and narcotics trafficking, and another headed by Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas, a fugitive responsible for trafficking illicit drugs into the United States and laundering funds for the cartel. The Sinaloa Cartel, designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the U.S. Department of State on February 20, 2025, is responsible for a significant portion of illicit fentanyl trafficked into the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration will not allow narco-terrorists to flood U.S. borders with fentanyl. OFAC designated the individuals and entities pursuant to Executive Order 14059, which targets the proliferation of illicit drugs, and Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters. The action reflects coordination between OFAC, the Homeland Security Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mexico's financial intelligence unit, Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera. Ojeda Aviles's network coordinates bulk cash collection in the United States from fentanyl sales and converts it into cryptocurrency for transfer to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The Gonzalez Penuelas network operates primarily in Sinaloa with distribution cells across California, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Nevada. As a result of the designations, all property and interests in property of the blocked persons in the United States are frozen. U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions involving designated individuals or entities unless authorized by OFAC license. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties.