U.S. sanctions Sinaloa Cartel network in Baja California

The United States Department of the Treasury, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has imposed sanctions on 21 individuals and 25 companies linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, specifically targeting the ‘Los Mayos’ faction and the ‘Los Rusos’ armed group.

Among those sanctioned is Carlos Torres Torres, identified by the U.S. government as having provided financial, material, or technological support to the cartel. The sanctions also include his brother, Carlos Alberto Torres Torres. The measures target a network of businesses in Baja California, including hotels, gas stations, real estate companies, and currency exchanges such as Magic Casa de Cambio in Tijuana and Mía Centro Cambiario in Mexicali.

These administrative sanctions freeze assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. persons and entities from conducting business with the designated parties. While the measures do not mandate the physical closure of businesses by Mexican authorities, they significantly restrict the ability of these entities to operate within the U.S. financial system.