The Trump administration implemented sanctions on two fugitives linked to the Sinaloa cartel—Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently in prison, and offered a $10 million reward for information that leads to their capture.
According to the State Department, Archivaldo Ivan Guzman and Jesus Alfredo Guzman are leaders of the “Roschapitos” faction. This group has been significantly involved in fentanyl trafficking, even while they are incarcerated in the United States.
The Roschapitos have effectively sourced precursor chemicals for fentanyl, which has enabled them, and other syndicates, to dominate the illegal drug trade amid the violence and secrecy surrounding Sinaloa’s labs.
“Los Chapitos is a powerful, hyper-violent offshoot of the Sinaloa Cartel, playing a major role in fentanyl trafficking,” stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent during the announcement of the sanctions.
He further noted, “The Treasury Department is carrying out President Trump’s directive to eliminate drug cartels entirely and confront violent figures like “El Chapo.” We’re using every tool at our disposal to combat the fentanyl crisis and preserve lives.”
These sanctions effectively freeze all properties and profits belonging to the Guzman brothers, both directly and indirectly.
The brothers have been identified as targets under the State Department’s Drug Reward Program, with the agency offering up to $10 million for information that results in their arrest or conviction.
“We aim to combat illegal drugs by preventing them from reaching the streets and reducing the funding for Mexico-based cartels’ violent activities,” said State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce. “Today’s actions reaffirm the Trump administration’s firm commitment to dismantling the cartel and ensuring the safety of Americans.”
Additionally, the Treasury has sanctioned several businesses associated with Mexican businessman Jose Raul Nunez Rios and his wife, Sheila Paola Urias Vazquez. This couple is thought to support the key Rosschapitos cell in Mazatlan, Mexico, and is reportedly involved in a variety of criminal activities, including drug trafficking and money laundering, all while vying against rival cartels.
These sanctions come after the Trump administration labeled the Sinaloa Cartel as a foreign terrorist organization back in February, designating it a specially designated global terrorist group.
El Chapo was convicted of multiple conspiracy-related charges in 2019 and received a life sentence, currently serving time at ADX Florence, the federal Supermax prison in Colorado.
