US Sanctions Leaders of Mexican Cartel Linked to Influencer’s Murder, Drug Trafficking

The United States has imposed sanctions on five senior figures in the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), including the suspected killer of Mexican influencer Valeria Marquez, as part of a broader crackdown on organized crime and drug trafficking.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the measures on Wednesday, targeting individuals allegedly involved in both the murder of civilians and the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States. The CJNG, a powerful criminal organization operating across Mexico, has been held responsible for widespread violence, including the targeted killing of women as a form of intimidation.

“This vicious attack highlights the brutal prevalence of femicide in Mexico,” the Treasury said in a statement. “Femicide often goes unpunished and affects a significant portion of Mexico’s women.”

One of the individuals sanctioned is Ricardo Ruiz Velasco, a top commander in the cartel and reportedly the prime suspect in the murder of Marquez, 23, who was shot dead in May during a livestream from the beauty salon where she worked in Zapopan, Jalisco. Authorities believe Ruiz Velasco was romantically involved with her.

The cartel’s leader, Nemesio Ruben “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, was also named in the sanctions. The U.S. government has offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture. Other sanctioned cartel members include Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez, Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytan, and Audias Flores Silva.

In February, the Trump administration formally designated the CJNG as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” and a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” intensifying efforts to disrupt its operations and finances.

The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets belonging to the named individuals and prohibit Americans from doing business with them.

With input from Al Jazeera