Tijuana, August 14.- The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions Thursday against Carteles Unidos and Los Viagras, along with seven of their top leaders, in a coordinated effort to dismantle the extortion networks that have paralyzed Michoacán's agricultural sector.
The action, implemented under the counternarcotics and counterterrorism executive orders, is part of President Trump's directive to "completely eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the American people."
In a bulletin, U.S. authorities indicated that cartels systematically extort farmers, packers, and exporters, demanding unpaid wages.
"Today's sanctions draw even further attention to the diverse, insidious ways cartels engage in violent activities and otherwise exploit legitimate business," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "Treasury, along with our U.S. law enforcement partners, will continue to target every effort by cartels to generate revenue for their violent criminal schemes."
