Trump Declares WAR – Cartel Sanctioned!

The Trump administration has taken decisive action against the violent La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel by sanctioning its four leaders and offering multi-million dollar rewards for their capture, striking a blow to one of Mexico’s most dangerous fentanyl trafficking organizations.

At a Glance

• Treasury Department sanctions target four siblings of the Hurtado Olascoaga family who lead La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel
• The cartel has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration for trafficking fentanyl into the U.S.
• U.S. government has offered rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of cartel leaders
• Sanctions freeze all U.S.-based assets and prohibit Americans from conducting business with the cartel members
• The Mexican cartel is responsible for smuggling fentanyl that contributes to over 70,000 American deaths annually

Trump Administration Targets Violent Mexican Cartel

The Department of the Treasury has implemented new sanctions against four members of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) cartel, freezing their assets within U.S. jurisdictions and prohibiting Americans from conducting business with them. The sanctions specifically target the cartel’s leadership: brothers Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, who serve as co-leaders, along with siblings Ubaldo and Adita Hurtado Olascoaga, who manage various criminal operations including hitmen, illegal mining, weapons trafficking, and money laundering of drug profits.

Watch coverage here.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration’s commitment to combating these criminal organizations. The Department of State has also announced substantial rewards for information leading to the capture of the cartel leaders – up to $5 million for Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and up to $3 million for Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga. These actions come as part of a broader initiative that has sanctioned over 250 targets worldwide involved in drug trafficking operations and their financial networks.

Fentanyl Crisis and Atlanta Distribution Hub

The LNFM cartel has established Atlanta as a major distribution hub for drug shipments into the United States. The criminal organization re-emerged in 2021 and quickly established new smuggling routes for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid primarily manufactured with chemicals from China and processed by Mexican cartels, has created a devastating public health crisis in America, causing over 70,000 deaths annually. Mexican drug gangs produce counterfeit prescription medications containing lethal amounts of fentanyl, which are then trafficked across the U.S. border.

“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 Treasury Department has also issued an advisory to help U.S. financial institutions identify transactions involving drug profits. This effort aims to cut off the financial resources of traffickers and seize their assets. The U.S. Justice Department has simultaneously announced indictments against illegal Chinese money exchanges and banking systems involved in laundering fentanyl profits, highlighting the international scope of the problem.

International Cooperation Challenges

U.S. efforts to target drug traffickers face significant obstacles due to limited cooperation from both China and Mexico. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has resisted aggressive action against cartels, prioritizing national sovereignty over international cooperation. This stance has complicated U.S. attempts to combat the narcotics trade originating from Mexico. The LNFM cartel is particularly known for its extreme violence, using drones and bombs against rivals and Mexican security forces.

China has been criticized for allowing companies to profit from the fentanyl trade, with allegations that some firms are even subsidized by the Chinese government. However, recent diplomatic efforts have yielded promises of greater cooperation from both China and Mexico in targeting drug assets and money-laundering operations. The sanctions imposed by the Trump administration represent a significant step in applying economic pressure on these criminal organizations as part of a comprehensive strategy to disrupt their operations and reduce the flow of deadly narcotics into the United States.