Treasury sanctions Tijuana market in Los Mayos action

By Cartel Insider Wire Desk · Edited by Mica Treviño

Infobae México · Sep 30, 2026 · 04:32 CT

What happened

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Vida Orgánica Tijuana and said its owners were tied to an alleged Los Mayos financial and political network. Carlos Torres denied any connection to organized crime.

De kombucha y chicharrón keto al radar de EEUU: Vida Orgánica Tijuana, la empresa de Carlos Torres sancionada por nexos con el Cártel de Sinaloa — Carlos Torres y Vida Orgánica Tijuana, la empresa que fue sancionada por la OFAC por supuestos nexos con La Mayiza. (Anayeli Tapia/Infobae) · Image source: Infobae México

Reporting and context

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Vida Orgánica Tijuana, a health-food market in Tijuana co-owned by Carlos Alberto Torres Torres, as part of a broader action against companies it said had alleged ties to the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. The business operates under the Vive Orgánico brand and sells products including kombucha, juices and organic foods.

According to Infobae México, the market reported average monthly sales of 570,000 pesos, based on a public message by Torres after the designation. The company was formed in 2020, when Marina del Pilar Ávila, now governor of Baja California, was among its shareholders. Ávila has said she transferred her interest to Torres in 2023; the source said the timing and registration of that change could not be independently confirmed.

TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA 12MAYO2025.- La gobernadora, Marina del Pilar Ávila, aseguró que la cancelación de su visa para ingresar a Estados Unidos no obedece a ningún delito o falta, sino que se trata de una decisión administrativa sin explicación oficial. Acompañada por titulares de las dependencias del gobierno estatal, afirmó estar tranquila y con la conciencia limpia. “No se ha comunicado la causa de esta medida, pero no hay acusación, no hay delito, no hay falta que perseguir”, aseguró. Ávila agradeció las muestras de apoyo de los funcionarios, y señaló que algunos actores han intentado u · Image source: Infobae México

Infobae México reported that the Treasury accused Torres of using political influence to protect a criminal faction in Baja California. The Treasury said former Mexicali security official Pedro Ariel Mendívil García delivered payments to Torres and that Luis Alfonso Torres Torres received and laundered alleged proceeds through companies and political campaigns.

Ilustración en primer plano de un hombre con barba sobre paneles de un hotel, una tienda, una gasolinera y dos vehículos blindados. — Un retrato ilustrado de Ismael Zambada Sicairos encabeza una grilla de establecimientos comerciales vinculados a investigaciones de Estados Unidos. (Imagen Ilustrativa Infobae) · Image source: Infobae México

Torres denied any connection to organized crime and said he would seek clarification from OFAC. The report said the State Department revoked his U.S. visa in May 2025 and that Mexico’s federal prosecutor’s office is investigating him based on anonymous complaints; Torres said he had not been summoned by Mexican authorities.

Contextual English newsroom rewrite based on Infobae México. Claims and allegations remain attributed to the publisher or officials it cites. Read the original report.