Mexico News Blog (MNB) – The United States Treasury Department has announced sanctions against two Mexican companies and their owners, who are identified as leaders of cells affiliated with the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG). The CJNG is recognized as one of the most significant producers and traffickers of fentanyl to the United States.
The sanctioned individuals are Juan Carlos Bañuelos Ramírez, known by his aliases “El Pistones” or “El Prada,” and Gerardo Rivera Ibarra, referred to as “Compadre” or “El Güerito.” They are allegedly responsible for sending methamphetamine and fentanyl to the U.S. through their companies, Inmobiliaria Universal Deja Vu SA and Fornely Lab SA, respectively, according to a statement released by the Treasury Department.
Profiles of ‘El Prada’ and ‘El Compadre’
Bañuelos Ramírez, identified as “El Prada,” is implicated in money laundering, procuring chemical precursors, and overseeing production laboratories within Mexico. He sources precursor chemicals from contacts outside Mexico and is responsible for shipping counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl from his laboratories. Additionally, Bañuelos manages methamphetamine production in Jalisco and has been known to smuggle drugs inside machinery to the United States. He also purchases automatic weapons and high-quality drones for the CJNG. Bañuelos was previously indicted by a federal grand jury in the Central District of California, as noted by the Treasury Department.
Rivera Ibarra, known as “El Compadre,” leads a cell that supplies fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to the United States. Operating primarily in Jalisco, Rivera Ibarra’s cell is connected to Audias Flores Silva, a high-ranking CJNG member designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). The Treasury Department’s statement highlights that both Bañuelos and Rivera Ibarra were sanctioned for their involvement in activities that materially contribute to the international proliferation of illicit drugs.
Impact on CJNG Finances
The sanctions result in the blocking of all property and interests in property of the designated individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons. Additionally, any entity owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by one or more blocked persons is also subject to these restrictions.
Over the past month, the U.S. government has implemented five new rounds of sanctions targeting transnational criminal organizations, including traffickers and revenue schemes of the CJNG and other cartels responsible for the fentanyl crisis. Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized the coordinated efforts between the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Federal Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, the Government of Mexico, and other security and investigation agencies.
Broader Context
The CJNG has emerged as a dominant force in the global drug trade, particularly in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine. The cartel’s operations have had a devastating impact on communities both in Mexico and the United States, contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis. The recent sanctions are part of a broader strategy by the U.S. government to disrupt the financial networks of these criminal organizations and curb the flow of illicit drugs into the country.
In Mexico, the government continues to grapple with the pervasive influence of powerful drug cartels like the CJNG, which wield significant control over various regions. The collaboration between U.S. and Mexican authorities underscores the transnational nature of the fight against drug trafficking and the importance of international cooperation in addressing this complex issue.
The Treasury Department’s action against Bañuelos Ramírez and Rivera Ibarra represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the CJNG’s operations and reduce the supply of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs to the United States.