A member of the notorious "Los Chapitos" group has been sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
"Today’s @USTreasury action demonstrates that the United States will continue taking actions to disrupt and dismantle every part of the illicit narcotics trade, to stop fentanyl and other dangerous drugs from reaching our communities," Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in a tweet.
OFAC sanctions can block assets of countries, companies, and individuals "to accomplish foreign policy and national security goals," a Treasury Department web page says.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez has been identified as a critical individual in the group’s drug ring, who worked with his brothers in Sinaloa Cartel actions, a U.S. government news release said. The "Los Chapitos" is a group run by four sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, who was arrested, extradited to the United States, convicted in a U.S. federal court, and sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison, a Justice Department press release said.
OFAC said Guzman Lopez worked with his brothers overseeing various aspects of their operations, including the distribution of the deadly drug fentanyl.
Blinken held a meeting on May 10 with bipartisan members of the House of Representatives and Senate to discuss U.S. efforts to counter fentanyl trafficking worldwide.
"The production and trafficking of illicit drugs is a global health and security threat that exacerbates the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic. Today’s action is part of the United States’ ongoing effort to disrupt and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that facilitate the illicit supply of fentanyl and other narcotics. The United States is leading this effort at a global level," Blinken said in a statement this week.
In April, the Biden administration outlined an approach to disrupt the distribution of fentanyl by enhancing international cooperation and highlighting public health initiatives. The plan involves more resources for investigations, growing partnerships with foreign governments, applying harsher regulations on anyone handling fentanyl precursor chemicals, and expanding treatment and recovery services.
