What You Need to Know
• The U.S. government designated the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras as foreign terrorist organizations.
• This designation was published in the Federal Register on Thursday and adds to six other Mexican cartels.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated both cartels pose serious risks to U.S. national security and citizens.
The U.S. government, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has officially designated the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras as foreign terrorist organizations, as published in the Federal Register on Thursday. This action adds these two groups to a list of six other Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, previously labeled as terrorist organizations. The designation allows U.S. authorities to take more aggressive measures against these groups and their affiliates. Since September, U.S. military operations targeting suspected drug trafficking vessels in Latin America have resulted in over 200 fatalities. The designation intensifies scrutiny on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, particularly following the indictment of ten officials from Sinaloa for alleged connections to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Why It Matters
This designation is significant as it reflects the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime from Mexico. The Juárez Cartel, one of Mexico’s oldest drug trafficking organizations, has a long history of violence and control over key smuggling routes, particularly in Ciudad Juárez, across from El Paso, Texas. The U.S. government’s actions are part of a broader strategy initiated by the Trump administration in February 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Latin American cartels to U.S. national security and public safety.
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