American strength is BACK!

"As President Trump and I have emphasized many times before, economic security is national security.

One of the most important roles we play at the Department of the Treasury is protecting the interests of the United States against foreign adversaries. Today, I am proud to announce that we have taken decisive action against the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and notorious criminal and drug trafficking organizations in the world.

Our administration is committed to cutting off their financing and neutralizing the threat with every tool available. We have imposed sanctions on six individuals and seven entities involved in a money laundering operation, cutting off the funding of these evil individuals.

Today, the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also issued an alert to help financial institutions detect and prevent cash smuggling by transnational criminal organizations in Mexico.

The Sinaloa Cartel has invaded our southern border. They have tortured and murdered countless of our citizens, dedicated law enforcement officers like Kiki Camarena, and veterans like Nicholas Kwetz, who was only 31 years old when he was brutally taken from us.

This group is responsible for a significant portion of the fentanyl and illicit drugs smuggled into the United States, drugs that continue to kill innocent Americans and destroy families every day.

Today’s action reinforces the great and coordinated work across the Trump administration, from the White House to DHS and DOJ. We have a steady pace of regulatory and sanction actions, as well as national security measures, sending a clear message: the strength of the United States is back."

The administration of President Donald Trump has significantly intensified actions against the Sinaloa Cartel, aiming to dismantle its operations and reduce the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.

Designation as a Global Terrorist Organization

In February 2025, the United States designated the Sinaloa Cartel, along with other criminal groups, as global terrorist organizations. This classification allows for stricter measures, such as financial sanctions and trade restrictions, with the goal of weakening their operational structures.

Financial Sanctions and Legal Actions

The Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the cartel, accused of money laundering and fentanyl trafficking activities. These sanctions aim to cut off their sources of financing and hinder their financial operations.

Additionally, negotiations have been held with cartel leaders, such as Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, to gather information that could assist in the dismantling of the organization. Although these negotiations have not yet produced conclusive results, they reflect a strategic approach to intelligence gathering.

International Cooperation and Additional Measures

In collaboration with allied countries, the United States has strengthened military and security operations in key regions, including deploying warships on the southern border to disrupt drug trafficking. These actions aim to restore territorial integrity and improve operational control in areas affected by organized crime.

These initiatives reflect the Trump administration's commitment to combating the Sinaloa Cartel, combining financial, legal, and security measures to mitigate its influence and operational capacity.