In an effort to counter the deadly threat from Mexican drug cartels, the Trump administration has implemented a series of sanctions against the massive Sinaloa cartel.

On Tuesday, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified six individuals and seven entities as part of a money-laundering operation benefiting the Sinaloa cartel, which is recognized by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration stated last year that the U.S. is encountering the “most dangerous and deadly drug crisis” in its history, with fentanyl and methamphetamine entering the country — noting that the “Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are at the core of this crisis.” 

The sweeping move by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent came as the Trump administration continues to crack down on Mexican drug cartels.

“Laundered drug money is the lifeblood of the Sinaloa cartel’s narco-terrorist enterprise, only made possible through trusted financial facilitators like those we have designated today,” Bessent said. 

Alberto David Benguiat Jimenez is based in Mexico City and allegedly operates a money laundering network moving illicit narcotics proceeds from the U.S. into Mexico on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel and OFAC-designated fentanyl trafficker Jose Angel Rivera Zazueta, whose drug trafficking organization imports precursor chemicals from China into Mexico to manufacture synthetic drugs, including fentanyl, MDMA (ecstasy), crystal methamphetamine and ketamine. 

Benguiat’s network has laundered over $50 million to date, the department said. The U.S. charged Benguiat with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and transmit monetary instruments for the purpose of laundering. 

Christian Noe Amador Valenzuela is a close associate of Benguiat who launders money as a part of the network. He was also charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Mexican military and police patrol in Culiacan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, Jan. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Urista, File)

The rollout of the sanctions against Sinaloa cartel members comes just weeks after President Donald Trump designated the Sinaloa cartel and seven other criminal groups across Latin America as FTOs.

FBI Director Kash Patel also announced in March that the federal law enforcement agency had extradited a leader of the violent criminal gang MS-13 from Mexico.

The administration has also invoked the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the removal of suspected Tren de Aragua members.