The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Los Chapitos, a faction of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, labelling it a Specially Designated Global Terrorist as US President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to tackle cross-border drug trafficking.
The US Treasury Department in a statement said it designated Los Chapitos under illicit drug and terrorism authorities, accusing it of facilitating trafficking and production of fentanylthe lethally potent opioid.
Two of its fugitive leaders, both sons of convicted Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, were also hit with sanctions, according to the Treasury Department.
“Los Chapitos is a powerful, hyper-violent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel at the forefront of fentanyl trafficking into the United States,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.
“At the Department of the Treasury, we are executing on President Trump’s mandate to completely eliminate drug cartels and take on violent leaders like ‘El Chapo’s’ children. Treasury is maximising all available tools to stop the fentanyl crisis and help save lives.”
The Treasury on Monday also imposed sanctions on what it said was a regional network of Los Chapitos associates and businesses based in Mexico.
