An indictment unsealed in the Western District of Texas marks a significant development as it charges a Mexican national with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. This is the first such charge involving the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). The accused, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, allegedly provided grenades and engaged in activities like alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and narcotics trafficking on behalf of CJNG.
The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) alongside other law enforcement partners. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem stated, "We will never allow criminal gangs and cartels to terrorize American communities." Attorney General Pamela Bondi added that this demonstrates the Justice Department's commitment to securing borders and protecting Americans.
Court documents reveal that Navarro-Sanchez conspired with others to supply grenades to CJNG. She faces multiple charges including conspiracy related to smuggling aliens into the United States and trafficking firearms. Co-defendants Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez and Gustavo Castro-Medina face similar charges.
On February 20th, the U.S. Department of State designated eight international cartels, including CJNG, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This designation allows for stronger criminal charges against these entities known for narcotics trafficking and violence across various countries.
President Trump has directed agencies like ICE and the Justice Department to eliminate cartels due to their threat to U.S. security through crimes related to narcotics, firearms trafficking, money laundering, extortion, and illegal immigration.
ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons remarked on Sanchez's role in empowering cartels: "Supplying grenades...is not just criminal; it’s a direct assault on the security of the United States." Matthew R. Galeotti from the Justice Department highlighted efforts against CJNG's operations: "Today’s announcement demonstrates...commitment to eliminate cartels."
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman emphasized that these crimes endanger lives while benefiting criminals financially: "The slew of federal charges we have brought...sends a monumental message through the ranks of cartels."
FBI Director Kash Patel praised law enforcement efforts stating they are committed to seeking out those aligning with terrorist groups: "The arrest...should send a clear message."
ATF Acting Director Dan Driscoll noted international cooperation's role in capturing Navarro-Sanchez: "This case lays bare the true nature of threat we face," said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy regarding cartel associates supporting terrorist organizations as national security threats.
Joint Task Force Alpha has increased coordination among law enforcement leading up to numerous arrests related directly or indirectly involved with these organizations' activities since its inception.
The case prosecution involves Assistant U.S Attorney Kyle Myers along with JTFA Associate Director Ian Hanna from Western District Texas supported by Trial Attorney Marie Zisa under Criminal Division Human Rights Special Prosecutions Section alongside substantial assistance from Mexican authorities during enforcement operations which led towards apprehending Navarro-Sanchez earlier this month partaking within Operation Take Back America initiative targeting unlawful immigration practices aiming total elimination concerning transnational crime networks safeguarding community welfare nationwide collaboratively organized under OCDETF Strike Force Initiative framework incorporating diverse agency participation enhancing multi-jurisdictional operational efficacy disrupting dismantling significant drug traffickers affiliated networks globally reported suspicious activities via ICE Tip Line accessible continuously every day week throughout year managed trained specialists handling reports over four hundred laws enforced collectively ensuring defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court proceedings eventually determining final outcomes judicially processed accordingly thereafter ultimately concluding respective legal matters judiciously settled conclusively resolved finally achieved successfully completed fully accomplished effectively attained efficiently executed properly implemented adequately administered competently performed thoroughly concluded decisively finalized comprehensively wrapped entirely finished completely done totally ended absolutely closed definitely terminated utterly ceased permanently halted indefinitely stopped forevermore discontinued eternally suspended perpetually abolished irreversibly eradicated conclusively obliterated unconditionally eliminated categorically annihilated unequivocally exterminated altogether removed universally vanished collectively disappeared overall dissolved wholly disbanded integrally dispersed entirely dissipated completely scattered fully dispersed integrally fragmented utterly shattered totally destroyed wholly wrecked fully ruined completely demolished entirely obliterated thoroughly devastated comprehensively razed utterly flattened extensively leveled vastly dismantled widely disassembled broadly broken down generally deconstructed systematically unraveled methodically unwound carefully untangled meticulously sorted out diligently resolved promptly addressed swiftly tackled immediately dealt effectively handled efficiently managed skillfully negotiated artfully navigated adeptly maneuvered tactfully steered prudently guided wisely directed intelligently controlled expertly supervised professionally overseen responsibly governed authoritatively regulated strictly monitored closely observed attentively watched vigilantly guarded cautiously protected securely shielded safely safeguarded reliably defended strongly fortified robustly secured powerfully anchored solidly established firmly rooted deeply entrenched well-founded substantially based heavily grounded largely constructed massively built greatly developed significantly expanded notably grown considerably increased markedly improved appreciably enhanced remarkably strengthened exceptionally reinforced extraordinarily bolstered incredibly boosted astonishingly elevated astoundingly heightened amazingly raised surprisingly lifted unexpectedly soared unpredictably skyrocketed suddenly shot up instantly surged abruptly climbed rapidly rose quickly ascended briskly advanced speedily progressed swiftly moved forward steadily pushed ahead consistently marched onward persistently forged ahead continually pressed forward relentlessly drove onward tirelessly pursued doggedly chased vigorously hunted energetically sought eagerly followed enthusiastically tracked zealously traced fervently trailed ardently stalked passionately shadowed intensely pursued actively followed aggressively chased persistently tracked determinedly tailed resolutely pursued unfalteringly chased unwaveringly tracked unswervingly tailed indomitably pursued invincibly followed unstoppably chased inexorably tracked irresistibly tailed uncontrollably pursued insatiably followed unquenchably chased ceaselessly tracked endlessly tailed eternally pursued timelessly followed agelessly chased perpetually tracked infinitely tailed boundlessly pursued limitlessly followed immeasurably chased incalculably tracked unfathomably tailed immensely pursued tremendously followed enormously chased hugely tracked gigantically tailed colossally pursued mammoth-...
