U.S. Sanctions 14 Sinaloa Cartel-Linked Fentanyl Laundering Targets

The United States Treasury Department announced sanctions on Wednesday targeting individuals, businesses, and cryptocurrency addresses linked to the Sinaloa Cartel's fentanyl trafficking and money laundering operations. The action targets 12 individuals and two businesses across two separate criminal networks.

One network is allegedly led by Armando de Jesus Ojeda Aviles, whom authorities describe as overseeing a money laundering operation for the cartel. Officials say Ojeda Aviles coordinates the collection of large cash proceeds from drug sales in the United States, converts that cash into cryptocurrency, and transfers the digital funds to Mexico. He is also identified as overseeing shipments of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States. The Treasury Department specifically sanctioned six Ethereum network addresses, with five connected to Ojeda Aviles.

The second network is allegedly headed by Jesus Gonzalez Penuelas, also known as "Chuy Gonzalez." Authorities say he leads a longstanding organization involved in trafficking illicit drugs into the United States and laundering funds. Gonzalez Penuelas was previously indicted on international drug trafficking...