**Primary Article**
**EU Sanctions Sinaloa Cartel Members for Terrorism Support in Mexicali, Mexico City, and Culiacán**
On March 30, 2025, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on five individuals linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, accused of providing financial support to a terrorist organization. The measures also impacted seven companies operating in regions including Baja California, Sinaloa, and Mexico City.
This marks the first time the Treasury Department has used specific powers granted under Executive Order 13224 – originally signed in 2001 by President George W. Bush – designed to bolster agencies in combating terrorism financing. The announcement underscores the U.S. administration’s commitment to safeguarding national interests from foreign threats, as emphasized by Scott Bessent, head of the department.
The individuals facing sanctions include Enrique Dann Esparragoza Rosas, believed to head a bulk money laundering operation supporting both “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayitos” factions of the cartel. Others, such as Alan Viramentes Sesteaga and operators Salvador Díaz Rodríguez and Israel Daniel Paez Vargas, were also sanctioned for their financial roles benefitting the cartel’s drug trafficking activities.
In Mexico City, the sanctions extended to Alberto David Benguiat Jiménez, who is alleged to facilitate laundering of synthetic drug proceeds and another associate, Christian Noe Amador Valenzuela, was charged with money laundering, although not directly with supporting terrorism.
The implicated companies, including Tapgas México and Group Enterprises in Culiacán, face accusations linked to terrorism financing as well.
**Secondary Article**
**U.S. Crackdown on Sinaloa Cartel’s Financial Network Intensifies**
The latest sanctions on the Sinaloa Cartel indicate a heightened focus by U.S. authorities on dismantling financial networks tied to organized crime. The targeted sanctions are part of a broader initiative aimed at disrupting the economic backbone of the cartel, which is notorious for its involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. These efforts align with international cooperation strategies to curtail the global reach of criminal networks.
Over recent years, the U.S. strategy has increasingly involved financial warfare, freezing assets and sanctioning entities accused of abetting illegal activities. This approach is seen as a critical component of the comprehensive efforts to undermine transnational crime syndicates.
Experts in international finance and security underscore the importance of such measures, as they not only directly impact the operations of these organizations but also deter legitimate businesses from engaging with criminal enterprises. The ongoing enforcement actions signal the continued prioritization of global terrorism and organized crime by national and international agencies.