The Department of the Treasury affirmed that the Cartel delos Soles is a criminal group led by Nicolás Maduro and senior officials of his administration, “that provides material support to foreign terrorist organizations” such as the Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, which threaten the peace and security of the United States.
“Today’s action further exposes the illegitimate Maduro regime’s facilitation of narcoterrorism through terrorist groups like the Cartel of the Suns,” stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Therefore, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated the group as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. He explained that the Tren de Aragua is a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) originating in Venezuela and is involved in illicit drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation of women and children, and money laundering, among other criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the Sinaloa Cartel is also a FTO, designated as:
“One of Mexico’s oldest and most powerful cartels, responsible for a significant portion of the deadly drugs trafficked to the United States from Mexico,” according to authorities.
“In addition to trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit drugs to the United States, the Sinaloa Cartel is involved in widespread violence.”
“The Department of the Treasury will continue to fulfill President Trump’s promise to prioritize the United States by taking strong action against violent organizations like the Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and their facilitators, such as the Cartel of the Suns,” Besset added.
Cartels designated as Terrorist Organizations
OFAC recalled that on February 20, the Department of State designated both the Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (TFOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SGTOs). The Department of the Treasury had already sanctioned the Tren de Aragua as a major transnational criminal organization on July 11, 2024.
Meanwhile, the OFAC explained that the Sinaloa Cartel was identified by the United States as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker since April 15, 2009, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
Meanwhile, on December 15, 2021, OFAC also designated the Sinaloa Cartel under Executive Order (EO) 14059.
What is the relationship with Nicolás Maduro?
OFAC explains that the Cartel of the Suns, along with Nicolás Maduro and high-ranking Venezuelan individuals in his regime:
“Corrupted government institutions in Venezuela, including parts of the military, the intelligence apparatus, the legislature, and the judiciary, to assist the cartel’s efforts to traffic narcotics to the United States.”
Therefore, it explains, the cartel’s name is derived from the sun insignia that commonly appear on the uniforms of Venezuelan military officers.
“The Cartel of the Suns supports the Tren de Aragua (Aragua Train) in its goal of using the flow of illegal narcotics as a weapon against the United States. Furthermore, it has provided support to the Sinaloa Cartel.”
