The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently took action against the Cartel de Santa Rosa de Lima (CSRL). This group is heavily involved in stealing fuel and oil in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Their activities have fueled a violent fight with another cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). This ongoing turf war has made Guanajuato one of the most dangerous areas in Mexico.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the U.S. commitment to stopping drug cartels. He stated, “We will find and stop where the cartels are making and laundering money.” The sanctions aim to cut off these groups from the U.S. financial system.
Fuel theft, or huachicol, is now the biggest non-drug income source for cartels in Mexico. Known as huachicoleros, these thieves employ various tactics to steal fuel from Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company. They may bribe employees, drill into pipelines, or hijack fuel trucks. The stolen fuel is often sold on the black market, not only in Mexico but also reaching the U.S. and Central America.
As a result, billions of dollars are siphoned from Pemex. The Mexican government has reported staggering losses due to this issue. In recent years, authorities have seized large quantities of stolen fuel and made significant arrests related to these thefts.
CSRL, founded in 2014, is named after a community in Guanajuato. The group has waged a violent battle against CJNG over control of the fuel trade, leading to more deaths and turmoil in the region. Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, known as “El Marro,” is the leader of CSRL. Although he was imprisoned in 2020, he continues to oversee operations from behind bars, maintaining connections with other cartels.
Interestingly, the ongoing fuel theft is not just a local issue. According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), nearly $827 million in suspicious transactions linked to oil smuggling had been reported recently. Texas and Florida were hubs for these activities, with many incidents occurring near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The sanctions indicate a serious approach from the U.S. government. Any property connected to sanctioned individuals is blocked and must be reported. Individuals or businesses that engage with those sanctioned may face penalties. The goal of these sanctions is not merely punishment but to encourage change.
In response to these increasing threats, the U.S. has designated CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This designation aims to significantly disrupt their operations and make it harder for them to do business.
For more details on the actions taken against these organizations, you can view reports from the U.S. Department of Treasury and FinCEN.
