The United States Department of the Treasury has financially sanctioned the Los Chapitos criminal cell, its two top leaders, Iván and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, and a network of operators in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, for their involvement in drug trafficking, primarily fentanyl.
According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), this is an action to halt the proliferation of drugs and their means of production and to undermine terrorism, based on the designation of cartels as terrorist organizations. “Los Chapitos is a powerful and hyper-violent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, leading the trafficking of fentanyl into the United States. At the Department of the Treasury, through President Trump’s mandate, we are fully eliminating drug cartels and bringing down violent leaders like El Chapo’s sons,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
According to the OFAC file, Los Chapitos, made up of Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, and their half-brothers, Ovidio and Joaquín Guzmán López, have established a strong leadership within the Sinaloa Cartel. Their current power is attributed to their ability to obtain chemical precursors to produce fentanyl and to produce it in clandestine laboratories, in addition to trafficking other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Along with the designation of the cell and Iván and Jesús Alfredo, Víctor Manuel Barraza Pablos was added to the Treasury’s blacklist. He is identified as the Los Chapitos plaza boss in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, responsible for directing drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, extortion, and fentanyl trafficking activities.
Also included was Mexican businessman José Raúl Núñez Ríos, a close associate of Barraza Pablos. After being identified as having become wealthy quickly, it was discovered that since 2021 he has acquired properties and established real estate development, construction, and other businesses in Mazatlán and other cities in Sinaloa to allegedly launder Los Chapitos drug trafficking proceeds.
He is also accused of having sided with Los Chapitos to finance their war against rivals, such as the heirs of El Mayo Zambada in Mazatlán.
The businessman’s wife, Sheila Paola Urías Vázquez, a makeup artist from Mazatlán, was also indicted for being the nominal owner of several businesses, including spas, salons, and other establishments used to launder Los Chapitos’ money. Urías is presumed to be the front woman for her husband’s money laundering activities.
