The US sanctions a member of the Mexican cartel for arms trafficking

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against Obed Christian Sepúlveda Portillo, whom it identified as an active member of arms trafficking in Mexico and attributed the measure to cooperation with Mexican authorities.

According to a statement released this Monday, Sepúlveda is involved in the trafficking of high-caliber firearms for the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, “a violent drug trafficking organization in Mexico responsible for a large proportion of the fentanyl and other drugs that enter the United States. “.

“Today’s actions are the result of active efforts between US agencies and the Mexican government to disrupt the supply of weapons to Mexican drug trafficking organizations, including those established in the United States,” the document said.

According to the Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, the “power and violence of the cartel are only possible due to their ability to obtain high-powered weapons, which are used to protect drug trafficking routes, territory and other illicit properties.”

The statement explains that Obed Sepúlveda coordinates the daily supply of bulk firearms and ammunition from the US border with Mexico through a network of individuals who work directly for the Jalisco New Generation cartel.

As a result of the sanctions, all of Sepulveda’s properties and interests in the US will be blocked and reported to OFAC, including those held by third parties.

Associated persons in the United States could face civil or criminal penalties for violating these sanctions, the note added.

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