Treasury sanctions people, businesses for cartel fuel theft

( NewsNation ) — The Treasury Department announced it has sanctioned nine Mexican nationals and 26 Mexico-based entities linked to a fuel theft network connected to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).

The CJNC is a drug-trafficking organization responsible for a significant portion of fentanyl and other drugs being trafficked into the U.S. The cartel and others have turned to fuel theft to generate money, resulting in billions of lost revenue for Mexico’s government.

The sanctions were put in place in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the government of Mexico.

“CJNG’s diverse revenue streams, including fuel theft, ultimately strengthen its ability to traffic fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States,” said Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo. “Treasury will continue to use its expertise and tools to target relentlessly drug trafficking gangs to make our communities safer and keep poisonous drugs like fentanyl off our streets.”

According to the Treasury, fuel theft is the most significant nondrug revenue source for Mexican cartels, as thieves steal fuel from Mexico’s state-run petroleum company. The fuel is taken by illegally drilling taps into fuel pipelines, stealing from refineries and hijacking tanker trucks. Cartels also engage in bribery and violence to complete their thefts and then sell the fuel to black markets in Mexico, the U.S. and Central America.

Senior CJNG member Ivan Cazarin Molina, aka El Tanque, allegedly runs fuel theft operations as well as engaging in drug trafficking, extortion and homicide. Molina is accused of managing a network of retail gas stations that sell stolen fuel as well as selling fuel to third parties.

In addition to his team, others sanctioned include Cesar Cazarin Molina, aka Tornado, El Tanque’s older brother, and other family members and associates, including Domingo Medina Diaz, Jahir Cazarin Ramos, Gerardo Alvarado Castillo, Jose Saul Rodriguez Hernandez, Brandon Ernesto Herrera Medina, Santos Aldair Estrada Medina and Patricia Rivera Garcia.

Sanctioned business include Biocombustibles El Jicaro, S.A. de C.V.; Dos Oceanos Paso del Toro, S.A. de C.V.; Etanofuel, S.A. de C.V.; Rapicombustibles de Veracruz, S.A. De C.V.; Magnocombustibles de Veracruz, S.A. de C.V.; Ahorrocombustibles de Veracruz, S.A. de C.V.; Econocombustibles de Veracruz, S.A. de C.V.; Carburantes Dos Oceanos, S.A. de C.V.; Dos Oceanos Combustibles y Carburantes, S.A. de C.V.; Combustibles Evolutivos y Alternativos Dos Oceanos, S.A. de C.V.; and Suministros Combustibles Oceanos, S.A. de C.V; 3D Modern Printing Press; Aceites y Lubricantes Maye, S.A. de C.V.; Aditivos y Suministros Etanofuel, S.A. de C.V.; Combustibles y Lubricantes Maye, S.A. de C.V.; Comercializadora Baguette Klic, S.A. de C.V.; Comercializadora Coffe Klic, S.A. de C.V.; Constructora Jjesa S.A. de C.V.; Etanoplus, S.A. de C.V.; Maxi-Gasoil Servicios, S.A. de C.V.; Mayegas, S.A. de C.V.; Multiservicios en Combustible Maye de Veracruz, S.A. de C.V.; Super Tiendas Klic, S.A. de C.V.; and Veracruzana de Servicios Hoteleros y Gastronomicos Los Angeles, S.A. de C.V.

A hazardous materials transport company, Traver Permisionarios, S.A. de C.V., and a construction company, Maquinas EDJA, S.A. de C.V., are alleged to support the fuel theft.

The sanctions are part of ongoing efforts to counter the trafficking of illegal drugs into the U.S. by cartels, resulting in the overdose deaths of tens of thousands of Americans each year.

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