US Treasury Sanctions Ice Cream Shops, Pharmacy Linked to Sinaloa Cartel

MEXICO CITY — The U.S. Treasury Department recently took action by sanctioning two Mexican businesses linked to the Sinaloa cartel, specifically targeting an ice cream chain and a pharmacy. These establishments are allegedly funded by money derived from fentanyl trafficking.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is tasked with combating illegal financial activities, reported that individuals previously implicated in money laundering had created a network of ice cream and popsicle shops in Sinaloa.

The Sinaloa cartel is notorious for utilizing its lucrative proceeds from international drug trafficking to set up various businesses. These ventures include everything from fraudulent timeshare schemes to restaurants, all aimed at laundering drug money.

In addition, a pharmacy and convenience store in Sonora were reportedly established using drug profits, according to OFAC. This particular operation is linked to José Arnoldo Morgan Huerta, also known as “Chachio.”

The Morgan Huerta family holds significant ties to the cartel; Chachio’s brother, Juan Carlos Morgan Huerta—referred to as “Cacayo”—is highlighted as a “plaza boss” responsible for overseeing drug operations in the border city of Nogales.

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo emphasized the commitment of the Biden administration in combating the effects of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs on American communities. He stated, “President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to using every tool at our disposal to combat the cartels that are poisoning our communities with fentanyl and other deadly drugs.”

The imposition of sanctions follows a recent exchange of accusations between U.S. officials and the President of Mexico regarding the surge in cartel-related violence, which recently culminated in over 30 deaths in Sinaloa.

These as well as other criminal activities of the Sinaloa cartel have contributed to a staggering fentanyl crisis in the United States, where the drug is responsible for approximately 70,000 overdose fatalities each year. The cartel imports precursor chemicals from countries such as China and India to manufacture this potent synthetic opioid.

The two individuals named in the latest sanctions, Jesús Norberto Larrañaga Herrera, often referred to as “El 30,” and Karla Gabriela Lizárraga Sánchez, are identified by the Treasury Department as the founders of the ice cream chain “Nieves y Paletas.” Their operations include multiple storefronts located in Sinaloa.

The broader context of the recent sanctions reflects a coordinated government effort to tackle the growing international issue of drug trafficking. The U.S. Treasury Department reiterated that these measures are part of a comprehensive strategy to address the drug epidemic that is costing the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year and resulting in innumerable additional non-fatal overdoses.

Pursuing this goal, President Biden articulated various proposals in July aimed at alleviating the ongoing drug crisis. These initiatives include lobbying Congress for the establishment of a registry for pill presses and tableting machines, as well as intensifying penalties against those convicted of drug smuggling and trafficking charges related to fentanyl.