The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on more than 50 Mexican individuals and companies tied to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), according to a news release from the U.S. Treasury Department. The action, announced Thursday by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), is the largest sanctions package ever aimed at CJNG and is designed to cut off the cartel's access to legitimate businesses used to generate revenue, launder money and support drug trafficking operations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions strike at the cartel's "leadership, financiers, and criminal networks," denying CJNG resources used to traffic fentanyl into the U.S. and finance other criminal enterprises. The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets belonging to the designated individuals and companies and prohibit U.S. persons from conducting business with them. Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate transactions involving sanctioned parties also risk secondary sanctions.
Sanctions Package Targets Diverse Industries
Unlike previous sanctions focused primarily on cartel leaders, Thursday's action highlights how CJNG allegedly embedded itself within Mexico's legitimate economy through businesses spanning numerous industries. Among the sanctioned companies are:
| Company | Industry | Alleged CJNG Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Petrocoda S.A. de C.V. | Gas stations/fuel retail | Linked to Audias Flores Silva ("Jardinero") |
| Casa Tequilera El Origen del Tequila | Tequila/agave | Linked to Roberto Jiménez Arias |
| Rancho San Miguel Los Tres Hermanos | Tequila and agave production | Linked to Gerardo "El Cachas" Botello network |
| Bubux Baby Shoes S.A. de C.V. | Children’s footwear | Owned by alleged CJNG leader Gerardo "El Cachas" Botello |
| Strong Energy S.A. de C.V. | Petroleum and natural gas | Allegedly tied to fuel theft and fentanyl network |
| Transic Logistic S.A. de C.V. | Logistics | Allegedly used to divert liquid fentanyl to CJNG |
| Corporativo de Seguridad Privada Alfa y Gama | Private security | Linked to CJNG family network |
| Green Agropacific | Agricultural/beverage crops | Linked to CJNG family network |
One of the more unusual sanctions targets was Bubux Baby Shoes, a company that markets infant footwear. Treasury alleges the business is owned by senior CJNG member Gerardo Botello Rozalez, known as "El Cachas," while relatives allegedly occupied leadership positions within the company and related businesses.
Fuel Theft and Logistics Remain Key Revenue Streams
The U.S. Treasury said CJNG continues to diversify beyond narcotics trafficking through huachicol—the theft and smuggling of gasoline and crude oil—which costs Mexico billions of dollars annually. Officials said some cartel operatives simultaneously participate in fentanyl trafficking and fuel theft operations.
OFAC also sanctioned logistics company Transic Logistic S.A. de C.V. and petroleum company Strong Energy S.A. de C.V. , alleging the businesses were controlled by Alma Laura Mena Alvarado and Jose Mora Leon. Treasury alleges the logistics company diverted liquid fentanyl to CJNG while the pair also participated in gasoline theft in cartel-controlled territory.
Other sanctioned individuals include Cesar Fabian Mena Alvarado, Lorena Guadalupe Mora Gomez, and Ruben Mora Leon, who were involved in logistics and fuel theft activities on behalf of CJNG.
Implications for Cross-Border Trade
The expansive sanctions package signals a heightened U.S. focus on disrupting the financial networks of Mexican cartels, particularly those embedded in legitimate industries. Importers and exporters dealing with Mexican entities in sectors such as fuel, logistics, agriculture, and consumer goods should review their supply chains for any connections to the sanctioned parties. The inclusion of a baby shoe company and tequila producers underscores the breadth of industries under scrutiny. U.S. persons are prohibited from transacting with these entities, and foreign financial institutions facilitating transactions risk secondary sanctions, according to the Treasury Department.
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