Treasury places sanctions on Mexican trafficker network

By Abraham Shanedling

The U.S. Department of Treasury announced Tuesday the designation of six companies and five individuals linked to Los Gueros, a Mexican drug-trafficking organization.

The individuals designated included family members and associates of Los Gueros’ leaders. The designated businesses are owned or controlled by the organization and are suspected of being used by the group to launder their illicit proceeds. These companies include a tequila maker and its two parent companies, according to the Treasury Department.

Los Gueros, based in Guadelajara, Mexico, is responsible for transporting multi-ton quantities of narcotics into the United States, and hid its ownership interest in companies and properties for years by using aliases, the Treasury Department said in its statement.

The Treasury Department had previously placed Los Gueros and its four leaders under Kingpin Act sanctions in February 2011.

Read more about this at the Wall Street Journal.