Treasury adds more cartel members to sanctions list
By Brett Rowland
The Center Square
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned four people affiliated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana, a Mexican cartel designated as a terrorist organization.
President Donald Trump's administration has labeled the cartel a specially designated global terrorist that has poisoned Americans by smuggling fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.
U.S. officials allege La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) is involved in smuggling drugs and people and uses violence against rivals and Mexican security forces. In some cases, the cartel has used drones and bombs in addition to guns.
The four siblings sanctioned this week include the group's co-leaders: Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga.
"Today's action underscores our commitment to intensify the pressure on violent drug cartels like LNFM, who continue to traffic deadly fentanyl and other drugs, smuggle illegal aliens over our Southwest border, and attack law enforcement,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "The Trump Administration will continue to use all available tools to target the cartels and other violent organizations that attempt to exploit our communities and harm Americans."
The sanctions came after a federal grand jury indicted Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga in the Northern District of Georgia.
In addition, the Department of State announced Narcotics Rewards Offers of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and up to $3 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga.
As a result of the designation, all property and interests of the named people that are in the U.S. must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons also are blocked, according to the agency. Further, the designation cuts those people off from many financial services because anyone who helps a sanctioned person could face sanctions.