On Jun. 20, OFAC, US Treasury issued counter narcotics designations.
OFAC sanctioned top leaders of Mexico’s La Nueva Familia Michoacana Drug Cartel.
Designated eight Mexico-based leaders of cartel, which also engages other illicit activity, including migrant smuggling, and is one of the most violent cartels in Mexico.
Concurrent with FinCEN's advisory on fentanyl supply chain trends, see #216506.
Also concurrent with US Treasury Yellen remarks on actions to combat the opioid crisis.
On same day, DoJ reported indictment of Mexican drug cartel leaders, see #216750.
La Nueva Familia Michoacana
Historically, La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) trafficked mostly methamphetamine.
However, in recent years, it has expanded into fentanyl trafficking, procuring necessary precursor chemicals, critical pill press machines, producing fentanyl in throughout MEX
Including in Mexico City, Pineda, Santa Teresa, Ciudad Altamirano, Tejupilco, others.
LNFM sends fentanyl and other drugs to the United States through Nuevo Laredo and Tamaulipas/Reynosa across the southern Texas border via buses, among other modes.
Once in US, drugs are sent to cities across US, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Tulsa, Chicago
LNFM also is also involved in human smuggling, forcing individuals to enter the United States illegally with drugs for the purpose of selling narcotics in the United States.
If the individuals do not comply, they are told they and their families will be killed.
Designated Cartel Leaders
Rodolfo Maldonado Bustos is a powerful and trusted member of the LNFM cartel.
He is next-in-line to Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga.
The two co-leaders of LNFM, both of whom OFAC designated in November of 2022.
Maldonado Bustos controls the drug routes that pass from Ciudad Altamirano, Guerrero, Mexico to the Zihuatanejo-Lazaro Cardenas, Guerrero, Mexico area.
In 2017, GA federal grand jury indicted Maldonado Bustos on heroin conspiracy counts.
Josue Ramirez Carrerais a financial leader and third-in-line in the leadership.
Ramirez Carrera is in control of laundering money through used clothing business.
He is also involved in arms trafficking where he directs people along the Rio Grande Valley to conceal weapons within packs of used clothing destined for Mexico City.
Josue Lopez Hernandez is a key lieutenant with regional connections with other cartels.
David Duran Alvarez is a key lieutenant and is known to send drugs to Houston, Texas.
Uriel Tabares Martinez is a sicario, or assassin, that works directly for the Olascoagas.
He is known as El Medico for the violent and surgical manner he tortures and murders.
Kevin Arzate Gomez is a key lieutenant and has associates along Mexico/US border.
Arzate Gomez negotiates on behalf of the cartel to have drugs enter the US.
In addition, he assists in getting the money from those drugs sales back to Mexico.
Euclides Camacho Goicochea works with Maldonado Bustos and Tabares Martinez.
Camacho Goicochea indicted in 2017 by federal grand jury in GA, including laundering.
Lucio Ochoa Lagunes is key lieutenant and works directly for Jose Hurtado Olascoaga.
US Treasury Yellen Remarks
Secretary Janet Yellen gave remarks at DEA press conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Addressed today's sanctions action against cartel, and FinCEN advisory re fentanyl.
Yellen stated that the targeted cartel leaders have carried out heinous acts, from controlling drug routes, to arms trafficking, to money laundering, to murder.
Two of the cartel leaders designated have been indicted by courts here in Georgia.
They were indicted on charges including heroin conspiracy and money laundering.
Sanctions will cut off them off from their ill-gotten money and make it harder for them.
Jun. 25, 2024 OFAC Federal Register
On Jun. 25, 2024, OFAC published notice of designations in the federal register.
