Senior members of the armed wing of a Mexican drug cartel operating in Chihuahua, Mexico, are targeted with sanctions by the U.S. government.
La Linea, a violent drug trafficking organization smuggling fentanyl for the transnational Juarez Cartel, has been hit with economic sanctions.
The big picture: The goal of the sanctions is to curb the inflow of fentanyl into the U.S., since it is one of the deadliest drugs in the country.
- The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned over 350 individuals and entities involved in drug trafficking over the past two years.
- Fentanyl is primarily trafficked into the U.S. from Mexico and China, with precursor chemicals sourced mainly from China.
Driving the news: La Linea and the Juarez Cartel have a history of violence, with U.S. authorities holding them accountable for damages caused to American citizens.
- Fentanyl smuggling has become a political issue, with Republicans linking it to migration concerns in the context of the 2024 presidential election.
- Despite claims connecting migrant issues to drug trafficking, federal data indicates that many individuals smuggling fentanyl across the border are actually U.S. citizens.
