Treasury targets Mexican drug cartel

Treasury targets Mexican drug cartel

Published: Sept. 24, 2013 at 2:50 PM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. Treasury officials said the department has designated several Mexicans associated with the Los Gueros drug cartel as drug kingpins under federal law.

The cartel, two leaders of which were extradited from Mexico to the United States in 2011, is responsible for multi-ton drug trafficking across the border, the Treasury Department said.

On Tuesday, six cartel associates and several business fronts were identified under the U.S. Kingpin Act by the Treasury Department. The businesses are shell companies owned by the Los Gueros cartel as a front for drug trafficking, making it illegal for for U.S. citizens to do business with them, officials said.

If the six cartel members are captured and extradited they face fines in the millions and lengthy prison terms if convicted of violating the Kingpin Act.

"Today's designation of Los Gueros' business network follows the arrest and extradition to the United States of two of its leaders. This action will further damage Los Gueros' business empire and impede its ability to reap benefits from the drug trade," said Treasury's Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Adam J. Szubin.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/...0351380048630/

I wonder if the cash rich cartels thought that this money hungry government wouldn't come after them......