The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, supported the sanctions imposed by Washington against two Mexican citizens and nine companies allegedly linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), considering that the measure strengthens the bilateral strategy to combat the sources of financing of organized crime.

Through a message published on the social network Likewise, he maintained that the joint action sends a clear message that "those who benefit from drug trafficking, arms trafficking, fuel theft or any other criminal activity will be held accountable."

Johnson's statements came after the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), of the United States Department of the Treasury, announced new economic sanctions against a network accused of operating a fuel smuggling scheme between the United States and Mexico for the benefit of the CJNG.

According to the Treasury Department, the organization acquired gasoline, diesel and other fuels in the United States to illegally introduce them into Mexico through falsified customs documents, front companies and other maneuvers aimed at evading the payment of taxes, a modality known as “fiscal huachicol.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that “today's action highlights the extent to which Mexican cartels are expanding beyond traditional drug trafficking to generate revenue for their criminal organizations, which continue to traffic deadly drugs that kill Americans.”

According to Washington, fuel smuggling and hydrocarbon theft have become the second most important source of income for Mexican cartels, only behind drug trafficking, generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually.