United States Sanctions Key La Nueva Familia Michoacana Members

In close coordination with the Government of Mexico and in support of President Biden’s Unity Agenda, today the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on eight individuals affiliated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana, including leaders Rodolfo Maldonado Busto and Josue Ramirez Carrera.  La Nueva Familia Michoacana is involved in significant fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine trafficking and migrant smuggling into the United States.

Synthetic drug traffickers pose a significant worldwide threat to health and security, and they exacerbate the overdose epidemic in the United States. Our sanctions authorities help sever criminal entities’ ties to the United States’ financial system, disrupting their networks’ operations.

These actions are a core component of President Biden’s strengthened whole-of-government approach to safeguard lives and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations responsible for the illicit distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic drugs.  To accelerate and strengthen international action to respond to emerging synthetic drug threats, Secretary Blinken launched the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.  The coalition has grown to include over 1,500 participants from 156 countries and 15 international organizations.

Today’s designations by the Department of the Treasury were taken pursuant to Executive Order 14059, which targets international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.  Those sanctioned are involved in various aspects of La Nueva Familia Michoacana operations including drug procurement and transportation as well as money laundering.  This is one of the most powerful and violent cartels in Mexico and recently increased their fentanyl trafficking.  More information is available here on President Biden’s Unity Agenda.  For more information on today’s actions and a detailed list of the individuals and entities designated, see the Treasury press release.