The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on April 23 the sanctioning of 23 individuals and entities involved in a synthetic opioid procurement network tied to the Sinaloa Cartel, which is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The sanctioned network spans India and Latin America, providing precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl and methamphetamine that are trafficked into the United States.
The action targets every stage of the synthetic opioid supply chain, aiming to disrupt international networks responsible for supplying highly potent drugs that have caused tens of thousands of deaths annually across American cities. According to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, “President Trump has been clear that terrorist cartels will not be allowed to wreak havoc on our borders and in our communities. Treasury will continue to target every stage of the opioid supply chain to Keep America Safe and prevent more lives lost to fentanyl.”
This coordinated move reflects a broader government effort involving agencies such as Homeland Security Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, foreign law enforcement partners, and Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). OFAC continues its collaboration with these groups to disrupt illicit drug flows and dismantle supporting financial infrastructure.
Entities sanctioned include chemical suppliers from India—such as Satishkumar Hareshbhai Sutaria and Yuktakumari Ashishkumar Modi—and brokers based in Mexico and Guatemala who facilitated shipments using companies like SR Chemicals, Agrat Chemicals, J and C Import, Central Logistica de Servicios, Desarrollos Cartok S.A. de C.V., Comercializadora Grupo Carhern S.A. de C.V., Quimica Soluciones y Logistica Internal Bajio S.A. de C.V., Corporativo y Enlace Ram S.A. de C.V., Enlace Forwarding Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Cargo Global 3PS S.de R.L.de C.V., E-Ram Group LLC (Florida), Reyma Global Trading S.A.de C.V., Aduaeasy S.de R.L.de C.V., Botanica 2000 pharmacy (Guadalajara), among others.
Today’s designations were made under Executive Orders targeting both international proliferation of illicit drugs (E.O. 14059) and terrorism-related activities (E.O.13224), as well as E.O.14367 which classified fentanyl precursors as Weapons of Mass Destruction due to their lethality.
As a result of these sanctions all property within U.S jurisdiction belonging to designated persons is blocked; Americans are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with them unless authorized by OFAC license or exemption. Violators may face civil or criminal penalties under strict liability standards outlined by OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines.
Bessent said these measures are intended not just for punishment but also "to bring about a positive change in behavior." Individuals seeking removal from sanction lists can refer to OFAC guidance on petitioning for removal.
