The United States imposed sanctions this Wednesday on the Mexican Santa Rosa de Lima cartel and its leader, José Antonio Yépez Ortiz alias “Marro”, arrested in 2020, for managing a fuel theft and smuggling network.
According to the Treasury Department, their activities “contribute to an illegal cross-border energy market, undermine legitimate U.S. oil and natural gas companies, and deprive the Mexican government of critical revenue.”
The Treasury considered that crude oil smuggling and fuel theft, known in Mexico as “huachicoleo,” are currently the most important source of non-drug income for the cartels.
“Under my direction, Treasury is aggressively isolating these criminals from the American financial system. No matter where or how the cartels obtain and launder money, we will find them and stop them,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
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War between CJNG and Santa Rosa de Lima increases violence in Guanajuato
They reported that these alleged thieves, known as huachicoleros, use various means to steal fuel and crude oil from the Pemex oil company, mainly by bribing corrupt employees.
The Treasury assured that “Marro” is in command of the organization and dictates instructions from prison.
The Donald Trump Administration assures that the territorial war of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) turned Guanajuato into one of the most violent in Mexico.
Likewise, it states that Santa Rosa de Lima has alliances with the Sinaloa Cartel and the Gulf Cartel, both considered terrorist gangs by Washington.
All assets of those sanctioned that are in the United States or in the possession or under the control of US persons are blocked and must be reported.
With information from EFE
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