U.S. Treasury Targets El Chapo’s Sons in Fentanyl Crackdown

Treasury Department Strikes at Sinaloa Cartel’s Core

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against two sons of the notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán Loera. Archivaldo Iván Guzmán Salazar and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, both fugitive leaders of the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, were specifically targeted for their roles in trafficking fentanyl into the United States. These sanctions are part of a broader effort under President Donald J. Trump’s administration to dismantle drug cartels and curb the devastating flow of deadly drugs across American borders.

The Treasury Department, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, also declared a reward of up to $10 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of these individuals. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, 'Los Chapitos is a powerful, hyperviolent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel at the forefront of fentanyl trafficking into the United States.' This action underscores a firm commitment to protecting American communities from the scourge of fentanyl-related deaths.

Los Chapitos: A Lethal Force in Drug Trafficking

Los Chapitos, under the leadership of Archivaldo Iván Guzmán Salazar and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, is accused of manufacturing and distributing massive quantities of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for countless overdoses in the United States. The faction is also linked to money laundering and fueling violence as part of their operations within the Sinaloa Cartel. U.S. officials have identified these individuals as senior figures in the cartel, believed to be currently located in Mexico, continuing their father’s criminal legacy.

The sanctions aim to disrupt key nodes of this illicit network by freezing any assets these individuals may hold in the U.S. and prohibiting American citizens from engaging in transactions with them. This financial stranglehold is intended to weaken their ability to operate and send a clear message that the U.S. will not tolerate the spread of deadly drugs into its communities. The Treasury Department’s actions are a critical step in addressing the fentanyl crisis that has claimed so many American lives.

Administration’s Resolve to Combat Cartel Influence

Under the guidance of President Trump, the federal government is intensifying its efforts to eliminate the threat posed by drug cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel. Secretary Bessent reiterated the administration’s stance, saying, 'At the Department of the Treasury, we are executing on President Trump’s mandate to completely eliminate drug cartels and take on violent leaders like ‘El Chapo’s’ children.' This operation reflects a no-nonsense approach to safeguarding national security and public health.

The combined efforts of sanctions and substantial bounties demonstrate a multi-pronged strategy to apprehend these fugitives and disrupt their operations. By targeting the financial underpinnings of Los Chapitos and offering significant rewards for actionable intelligence, the administration is mobilizing all available resources to protect American families from the devastating impact of fentanyl trafficking. This resolute stance is a testament to the priority placed on rooting out criminal enterprises that prey on vulnerable communities.