The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on three Mexican nationals and two companies linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), aiming to disrupt a network involved in fuel theft and drug trafficking operations.
The individuals sanctioned are César Morfín Morfín, also known as “El Primito,” and his brothers Álvaro Noé Morfín Morfín and Remigio Morfín Morfín. The companies targeted are Servicios Logísticos Ambientales and Grupo Jala Logística, both based in Mexico. According to U.S. authorities, these entities have been instrumental in transporting stolen fuel and crude oil across the U.S.-Mexico border, generating substantial revenue for the CJNG.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “Fuel theft and crude oil smuggling are cash cows for CJNG’s narco-terrorist enterprise, providing a lucrative revenue stream for the group and enabling it to wreak havoc in Mexico and the United States.”
The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets of the designated individuals and entities and prohibit American citizens from engaging in transactions with them.
This action follows the Trump administration’s February designation of the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The cartel, led by Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, is considered one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations. The U.S. government has offered a $15 million reward for information leading to El Mencho’s capture.
In response to the sanctions, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized efforts to enhance traceability in fuel transportation to combat theft and smuggling. She stated that measures are being implemented to ensure that all fuel shipments can be tracked from origin to destination.
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) continues to collaborate with Mexican authorities to dismantle CJNG’s financial networks and curb its influence on both sides of the border.
These sanctions represent a significant step in the ongoing efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations and their illicit activities that threaten the security and economic stability of both nations.