### U.S. Sanctions Culiacán Ice Cream Shops Allegedly Tied to Sinaloa Cartel
On September 24, 2024, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on five Colombian nationals and two Mexican companies in accordance with Executive Order (EO) 14059. This order targets foreign individuals involved in global illicit drug trade, and according to an infographic, those sanctioned are linked to Ismael Mario Zambada García, alias “El Mayo,” co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The U.S. government states that the sanctioned Colombian individuals are purported leaders of Clan del Golfo (CDG), also known as Los Urabeños, a major drug trafficking organization in Colombia and a key player in human trafficking through the Darién Gap.
“Today’s sanctioned businesses located in Mexico are owned by Sinaloa Cartel-designated fentanyl traffickers. The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the most notorious and prevalent drug trafficking organizations worldwide and is responsible for a significant amount of deadly fentanyl and other illicit drugs trafficked into the United States,” said the U.S. State Department.
Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, emphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to using all available tools to combat cartels poisoning U.S. communities with fentanyl and other lethal drugs. “This action also targets the ability of criminal organizations like CDG in Colombia to operate migrant trafficking networks northward through the Darién Gap to the U.S. southern border,” he added.
The Department of the Treasury said that the sanctions result from collaboration with Colombia’s National Police and the DEA. Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) also coordinated with the U.S. for actions taken in Mexico.
OFAC’s interim director, Lisa Palluconi, is visiting Colombia and Mexico this week to strengthen regional ties, promote sanctions compliance, and protect the financial system from profits derived from illicit drugs.
The sanctioned businesses include Nieves y Paletas EVI, an ice cream and popsicle company with locations in Culiacán and surrounding municipalities, and Farmacia y Mini Super Trinidad, a retail pharmacy and supermarket in Nogales, Sonora. The businesses are allegedly owned or controlled by individuals sanctioned earlier for drug trafficking activities.
As a result of these sanctions, all assets and interests in property within the U.S. or controlled by U.S. persons are frozen and must be reported to OFAC. Transactions involving these assets are generally prohibited without specific authorization from OFAC.
#### Additional Developments:
**Mexican President’s Plan to Combat Drug Trafficking**
In related news, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced a new initiative to combat drug trafficking and cartel activities. The plan includes increased coordination with international law enforcement agencies and the deployment of additional resources to cartel hotspots. The President emphasized the importance of tackling the root causes of drug trafficking, including poverty and lack of economic opportunities in affected regions.
“By addressing the socio-economic issues and strengthening our international partnerships, we aim to dismantle the cartels and reduce the flow of drugs into our country and subsequently into the United States,” López Obrador stated.
**Regional Cooperation Intensifies**
In another development, the governments of Mexico, Colombia, and the United States have agreed to form a trilateral task force focused on disrupting the financial networks of drug cartels. This task force will enhance the sharing of intelligence and resources, aiming to target the economic foundations of these criminal groups.
The first meeting of the task force is scheduled for next month in Bogotá, where representatives will outline a joint strategy to seize cartel assets and prosecute individuals involved in money laundering and drug trafficking operations.
For more updates, visit [TJGringo.com](http://www.tjgringo.com).
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