The U.S. Treasury Department recently announced sanctions on two Mexican businesses, an ice cream chain, and a local pharmacy, for their alleged involvement in using proceeds from fentanyl trafficking to fund operations linked to the Sinaloa cartel. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified individuals previously cited for money laundering who had established a chain of ice cream and popsicle shops in Sinaloa, as well as another individual who set up a pharmacy and convenience store in Sonora.
The Sinaloa cartel, known for using earnings from drug trafficking to establish legitimate businesses, has been implicated in various money laundering activities, including investing in fraudulent timeshare operations and restaurants. The U.S. Treasury Department emphasized the commitment of President Biden and Vice President Harris to combat cartels involved in drug trafficking, particularly those responsible for distributing fentanyl and other deadly drugs.
