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The U.S. Department of State’s announcement of reward offers of up to $8 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the leaders of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) cartel, a Mexican drug trafficking organization that has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), represents a significant escalation in the ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle this dangerous criminal organization.
The reward offers are specifically for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers, Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga (“Pez”) and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga (“Fresa”), who are the leaders of the LNFM cartel. The U.S. government alleges that the LNFM cartel is responsible for the transportation, importation, and distribution of over 36 metric tons of methamphetamine, 12 metric tons of Mexican heroin, and 12 metric tons of cocaine per year from Mexico into the United States.
These reward offers complement the Department of Justice’s indictment of the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers and the Department of the Treasury’s sanctions against them and other LNFM members, demonstrating a multi-pronged approach to tackling the cartel’s illicit activities.
Source: state.gov-Law Enforcement, Narcotics, Anti-corruption
Our Commentary
Background and Context
The La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) cartel is a Mexican drug trafficking organization that has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. government. The cartel is known for its involvement in the transportation, importation, and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. The Hurtado Olascoaga brothers, Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga (“Pez”) and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga (“Fresa”), are the leaders of the LNFM cartel.
Expert Analysis
According to drug policy experts, the reward offers are a strategic move to disrupt the LNFM cartel’s leadership and operations. “By targeting the top leaders of the LNFM cartel, the U.S. government is aiming to create instability and uncertainty within the organization, which can significantly impact its ability to function effectively,” says Dr. Emily Livingston, a professor of criminology at the University of California, Los Angeles. “The substantial monetary rewards are likely to incentivize individuals with valuable information to come forward, potentially leading to the arrest and prosecution of these high-profile criminals.”
Additional Data and Fact Reinforcement
The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted the Hurtado Olascoaga brothers, and the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced new sanctions against them and two related LNFM members. The DEA estimates that the LNFM cartel is responsible for the transportation, importation, and distribution of over 36 metric tons of methamphetamine, 12 metric tons of Mexican heroin, and 12 metric tons of cocaine per year from Mexico into the United States.
Related News
The LNFM cartel’s designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity is part of a broader crackdown on transnational organized crime groups by the U.S. government. In recent years, the Department of Justice and other federal agencies have pursued similar strategies against other major Mexican drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), through indictments, sanctions, and reward offers.
Summary
The U.S. Department of State’s announcement of reward offers for information on the leaders of the LNFM cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, represents a significant escalation in the ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle this dangerous criminal organization. By targeting the cartel’s top leadership, the U.S. government aims to create instability and undermine the LNFM’s ability to continue its illicit operations, particularly the transportation, importation, and distribution of large quantities of drugs from Mexico into the United States. As part of a broader crackdown on transnational organized crime, these reward offers, combined with other law enforcement actions, are expected to contribute to the eventual downfall of the LNFM cartel and the apprehension of its fugitive leaders.
