US designates Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras as terrorist organizations

The U.S. Treasury Department and State Department announced that the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras have been added to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). The designations, published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2026, expand the legal tools available to freeze assets, prohibit U.S. persons from conducting transactions with the groups, and allow criminal prosecution for material support. The move follows earlier designations of six Mexican cartels and is intended to increase pressure on drug‑trafficking networks that supply fentanyl and other narcotics to the United States.

The U.S. also reiterated a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Los Viagras leader Nicolás Sierra Santana. Mexican authorities have rejected the unilateral action, emphasizing respect for national sovereignty while acknowledging the need for bilateral security cooperation. The designations signal a broader U.S. strategy of treating major drug cartels as terrorist threats to enhance financial and diplomatic leverage against organized crime.