The U.S. Department of the Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control, has sanctioned more than 50 Mexican individuals and entities linked to Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion under Executive Order 14059 and Executive Order 13224, as amended. The action targets CJNG’s current leadership, including new leader Juan Carlos Gonzalez, known as Pelon, as well as trafficking cells, family-based asset holding structures, front companies and third-party money laundering networks that Treasury said support the cartel’s fentanyl trafficking, cocaine smuggling, fuel theft and other criminal activity across multiple Mexican states. The designations reach several distinct CJNG support structures. Treasury identified networks tied to senior operative Audias Flores Silva, known as Jardinero, and senior member Gerardo Botello Rozalez, known as El Cachas, including relatives, associates and businesses used to hold or conceal assets. It also targeted individuals and companies linked to liquid fentanyl diversion and fuel theft, a cocaine trafficking network connected to the Diaz Robles twins and businessman Jorge Zepeda Rodriguez, and a Guadalajara- and Zapopan-based money laundering network that Treasury said moved bulk narcotics proceeds from multiple U.S. cities back to Mexico and laundered tens of millions of USD a year since at least 2023. Treasury said the action was coordinated with the Homeland Security Task Force and Mexico’s financial intelligence unit. As a result, property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally barred from dealing with them absent authorization. Treasury also said foreign financial institutions could face secondary sanctions exposure for knowingly conducting or facilitating significant transactions for persons designated under the relevant authorities.
U.S. Department of the Treasury2026-07-23
U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions more than 50 CJNG-linked individuals and entities, including new leader Juan Carlos Gonzalez
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned more than 50 individuals and entities linked to CJNG, including its new leader Juan Carlos Gonzalez, known as Pelon. The action targets leadership, family-controlled front companies, fentanyl and cocaine trafficking cells, fuel theft operators and a money laundering network that moved drug proceeds from the United States back to Mexico. The sanctions block U.S.-linked property and broadly prohibit U.S. dealings with the designated parties.