US sanctions ice cream shops and pharmacy linked to Sinaloa Cartel

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Mexican businesses linked to the Sinaloa cartel, specifically targeting an ice cream shop chain and a pharmacy. These establishments were reportedly financed using proceeds from fentanyl trafficking, a significant issue contributing to the opioid crisis in the United States. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control highlighted that individuals previously involved in money laundering had established the ice cream chain in Sinaloa, while another individual set up the pharmacy in Sonora. The Sinaloa cartel is notorious for its role in the international drug trade, particularly in the trafficking of fentanyl, which is responsible for approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the U.S. The cartel utilizes its drug earnings to invest in various businesses, including fraudulent operations and restaurants, as a means to launder money. The individuals behind the ice cream chain, Jesús Norberto Larrañaga Herrera and Karla Gabriela Lizárraga Sánchez, are directly linked to these illicit activities. The sanctions were announced shortly after the U.S. government rejected claims from Mexico's President regarding U.S. responsibility for escalating cartel violence, which has resulted in numerous fatalities in Sinaloa. The U.S. Treasury emphasized its commitment to combating the drug trafficking crisis, which poses a severe threat to American communities. This action is part of a broader strategy by the Biden administration to address the ongoing drug epidemic, which includes legislative proposals aimed at enhancing penalties for drug traffickers and establishing a registry for pill presses and tableting machines. The U.S. government continues to seek comprehensive solutions to mitigate the impact of drug trafficking and its associated violence.