The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned two Mexican members of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) and two Mexican companies. CJNG, a Mexico-based criminal organization, is one of the largest producers and traffickers of illicit fentanyl to the United States. This action was coordinated with the Government of Mexico, including its financial intelligence unit, La Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF), as well as U.S. Government partners such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

“Over the past month, the Biden-Harris administration has imposed five new rounds of sanctions on transnational criminal organizations, including traffickers and revenue-generating schemes fueling the flood of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States by CJNG and other cartels,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Building on our strong partnerships across the U.S. government and with our counterparts in Mexico, we will continue to act against the financial flows of CJNG and other criminal organizations that harm Americans through the illicit drug trade.”

Today’s designations further efforts by Treasury’s Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force to disrupt illicit financial networks relied upon by cartels.

Juan Carlos Banuelos Ramirez is a CJNG cell leader who has worked to send methamphetamine and fentanyl to the United States. Banuelos launders money, procures precursor chemicals, oversees production labs within Mexico, smuggles drugs within machinery for export to various destinations including the United States, purchases automatic weapons for CJNG, and seeks high-grade drones for their operations. He was previously indicted by a federal grand jury in California.

Gerardo Rivera Ibarra is another leader within CJNG capable of supplying fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to the United States from Jalisco, Mexico. Rivera has ties to Audias Flores Silva, a high-ranking CJNG member designated under the Kingpin Act.

Banuelos was sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for activities contributing significantly to international narcotics proliferation or their means of production. Rivera was also sanctioned under E.O. 14059 for acting on behalf of CJNG.

Additionally today OFAC sanctioned Fornely Lab S.A. de C.V., engaged in wholesale trade for being associated with Rivera; Inmobiliaria Universal Deja Vu S.A. de C.V., engaged in real estate activities associated with Banuelos.

OFAC had previously sanctioned CJNG under various acts dating back to April 2015 due to their significant role in international narcotics trafficking.

As part of ongoing efforts against timeshare fraud affecting U.S citizens linked with CJNG affiliates last week OFAC sanctioned seven targets involved in such schemes alongside issuing joint advisories with FinCEN & FBI providing methodologies & indicators related thereto

Today's actions block all property interests within US jurisdiction linked directly/indirectly affected entities/persons unless otherwise authorized via specific licenses/regulations imposing civil/criminal penalties violations thereof non-US persons similarly prohibited causing evasion thereof

This move forms part broader government effort countering global threats posed illicit drug trafficking resulting numerous fatalities annually reinforcing President Biden's Unity Agenda

For detailed information regarding seeking removal from OFAC lists refer provided links FAQ897/process details