Cutting Off the Supply Chain: Treasury Targets La Linea and Fentanyl Traffickers in Mexico

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(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — In a decisive move against fentanyl trafficking, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on key figures and entities within La Linea, a notorious Mexican drug trafficking group linked to fentanyl flow into the United States. This effort, aligned with President Biden’s administration and Mexican authorities, aims to cripple La Linea’s operations and cut off the financial arteries that sustain their criminal network.

Growing Threats from La Linea

Once an armed wing of the Juarez Cartel, La Linea has evolved into a powerful trafficking force with a regional hold over Ciudad Juárez and a robust network for smuggling drugs, people, and illicit goods. The group, notorious for its role in the murder of nine American citizens in 2019, has partnered with Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) to strengthen its supply chain, drawing U.S. attention as a critical target.

The New Faces on OFAC’s List

The sanctions come with a warning: all U.S. property and assets of the following individuals and companies are now blocked. These designations spotlight La Linea’s internal players, from trafficking leaders to operators managing key territories across Chihuahua.

Josefa Yadira Carrasco Leyva – “La Wera de Palenque”

Known as “La Wera de Palenque,” Josefa Carrasco Leyva is a high-ranking member of La Linea, responsible for drug trafficking, human trafficking, and weapons smuggling within the organization. Despite being sentenced to four years in prison in May 2024 for illegal firearm possession, Carrasco Leyva retains significant influence in La Linea’s operations, illustrating the group’s deeply entrenched network.

Carrasco Leyva was arrested in September 2023 in a high-profile operation led by Mexico’s Federal Ministerial Police, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena) at a luxury neighborhood in Chihuahua. Authorities seized firearms, ammunition, multiple vehicles, and seven mobile phones during her arrest, underscoring her role in La Linea’s illicit activities.

Now serving her sentence at the Centro Federal de Readaptación Social No. 16 (CPS Femenil Morelos), Carrasco Leyva remains a prominent figure within La Linea. Her criminal record extends beyond her current imprisonment, as she faces additional charges. Remarkably, she is also known as a singer in regional Mexican music circles—a dual life that reflects the unique blend of influence and notoriety figures like her hold within cartel structures.

Jorge Adrian Ortega Gallegos – “El Naranjas”

Jorge Adrian Ortega Gallegos, known as “El Naranjas,” is a high-ranking member of La Linea with a documented history of drug trafficking in collaboration with major cartels. Previously indicted in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico for drug conspiracy charges, Ortega Gallegos was allegedly involved in the distribution of over 100 kilograms of marijuana for the Vicente Carrillo Fuentes Organization (VCFO) in 2011. This network was linked to transporting large quantities of drugs into the United States, primarily to fuel the operations of the Juarez Cartel.

In connection with his criminal activities, Ortega Gallegos worked alongside key figures such as Jesús Salas Aguayo and Carlos Arturo “Ochenta” Quintana. These individuals, including Ortega Gallegos, allegedly managed significant portions of drug routes from Chihuahua into the United States. The VCFO, one of Mexico’s oldest and most powerful criminal organizations, expanded from narcotics trafficking into other illicit enterprises, including human and arms trafficking, extortion, and large-scale gasoline theft.

Ortega Gallegos’s role in La Linea and his ties to the VCFO place him at the heart of a transnational trafficking network, contributing to the organization’s dominance in regions like Ciudad Juarez, where it controls smuggling routes across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Heber Nieto Fierro

Heber Nieto Fierro functions as both a drug trafficker and a money launderer for La Linea, overseeing financial operations that fund the cartel’s extensive trafficking network. Based in Chihuahua, Mexico, Nieto Fierro is reported to manage two front companies: R.Y H. El Remate, S.A. de C.V. and Soluciones Tecnologicas y Paqueteria Tres, S.A. de C.V. Both companies, now sanctioned by OFAC, operate in real estate and logistics, allowing Nieto Fierro to transfer assets and launder money for the cartel.

Nieto Fierro’s financial influence supports La Linea’s broader operations, from drug trafficking to human smuggling. Leveraging his businesses as cover, Nieto Fierro has facilitated La Linea’s operations in the Juarez Valley and other regions, contributing to the flow of synthetic drugs, like fentanyl, across the U.S.-Mexico border. His role exemplifies La Linea’s strategy of integrating legitimate business fronts into its criminal empire to evade law enforcement and secure revenue streams.

La Linea’s partnership with the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) since 2023 further amplifies Nieto Fierro’s role. With CJNG supplying cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, Nieto Fierro’s operations help ensure that these drugs reach their intended markets in the United States, underlining his importance within the cartel’s organizational structure.

Jesus Salas Aguayo – “El Chuyín”

Jesús Salas Aguayo, known as “El Chuyín,” is a prominent figure within the Juárez Cartel, where he holds a leadership position that became more prominent following the decline of former leaders like Vicente Carrillo Fuentes. As a critical player, Salas Aguayo has been involved in drug trafficking operations, mainly focusing on smuggling cocaine and marijuana across the U.S.-Mexico border. His role in the cartel also extends to orchestrating violent acts, including ordering hits on rivals and witnesses, such as the reported case of a protected witness in El Paso, Texas.

El Chuyín has faced legal action for his criminal activities; Mexican authorities detained him in 2015 in Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua. His influence, however, has persisted despite these setbacks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Salas Aguayo for his involvement with drug trafficking organizations, marking him as a significant threat to regional security.

Recent reports indicate that Salas Aguayo remains active in criminal networks and has expanded his affiliations to include the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). His collaboration with CJNG strengthens La Linea’s access to resources. It reinforces his role in maintaining control over crucial smuggling routes in Chihuahua, further embedding him within the cross-border narcotics trade.

Adrian Aguayo

Adrian Aguayo is a known associate of La Linea, the armed faction linked to the Juárez Cartel, and holds significant influence within the organization. Operating primarily in Chihuahua, Aguayo manages a “la plaza,” or territory, under La Linea’s control. His role involves overseeing drug trafficking operations within his assigned area, facilitating the flow of narcotics, including fentanyl, into the United States.

Aguayo’s activities have not gone unnoticed by U.S. authorities. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently imposed sanctions on him for his involvement in activities that support the international proliferation of illicit drugs. These sanctions block all property and interests in property associated with Aguayo that fall under U.S. jurisdiction, effectively severing his financial ties within the United States as part of broader efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks.

La Linea, while historically tied to the Juárez Cartel, has increasingly collaborated with the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) in recent years, relying on CJNG for drug supplies such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Aguayo’s role within La Linea thus places him in a critical position within this multi-cartel network, reinforcing the organization’s capacity to maintain drug and arms trafficking routes across the border.

Aguayo’s plaza management contributes to La Linea’s broader operations, which span beyond drug trafficking to include human trafficking and weapons smuggling. His involvement underscores the intertwined criminal activities fueling instability and violence in the region as La Linea capitalizes on its strategic location along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sanctioned Entities: The Economic Backbone

OFAC’s designations extend beyond individuals to entities that support La Linea’s operations. These businesses managed under legitimate fronts, act as financial conduits, channeling illicit proceeds to sustain trafficking. Newly sanctioned entities include:

R.Y H. El Remate, S.A. de C.V. – A real estate entity in Chihuahua, used to launder profits from drug sales and fuel La Linea’s growth.

Soluciones Tecnologicas y Paqueteria Tres, S.A. de C.V. – Based in Zapopan, Jalisco, this transportation and storage firm is linked to Nieto Fierro and enables secure movement of goods and funds.

OFAC’s Compliance Guidance for the Maritime Industry

In conjunction with these designations, OFAC has issued updated compliance guidelines for the maritime shipping industry. These new guidelines aim to equip maritime operators with tools to detect and avoid sanctions evasion tactics. This focus on maritime compliance underscores the complexity of smuggling networks that often rely on sea routes to bring fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into U.S. ports.

Sanctions Implications and the Path Forward

As part of OFAC’s updated actions, U.S. persons and entities are prohibited from engaging in transactions with the newly sanctioned individuals and entities. Non-compliance may result in severe civil or criminal penalties under U.S. law. Treasury’s approach reflects a broader strategy to dismantle financial networks supporting drug trafficking, with OFAC committed to monitoring and responding to new threats. For sanctioned individuals, OFAC outlines a pathway for removal from the SDN list if behavior changes, emphasizing that sanctions are aimed not at punishment but at encouraging positive change.

The Cross-Border Impact

The sanctions on La Linea demonstrate the growing collaboration between the United States and Mexico in addressing cross-border criminal enterprises. This coordinated action, involving the Drug Enforcement Administration and Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), signals a united front against organized crime. As fentanyl continues to ravage American communities, the Treasury’s efforts to disrupt the financial flows sustaining cartels mark an essential step in countering the drug crisis.

With over 350 targets sanctioned over the last two years, OFAC and its partners remain vigilant in tracking and disrupting drug trafficking networks. The designations against La Linea send a clear message: as long as these groups operate with impunity, the U.S. will continue to tighten its sanctions and broaden its partnerships to protect communities on both sides of the border.

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