Overview

• At a recent Senate forum, J. Jesús Esquivel outlined how US-based gangs and motorcycle clubs form hierarchical “gringo cartels” controlling fentanyl distribution, territory and money laundering
• He revealed that US banks allow remittance transfers up to $10,000 without origin checks, facilitating at least $1 billion in annual drug proceeds
• Esquivel accused US authorities of a double discourse that avoids labeling domestic networks as cartels and shifts blame onto Mexican organizations
• Mexico’s Senate has formally requested investigative files from Washington on figures like Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Ovidio Guzmán after Esquivel highlighted their roles
• He underscored that the US drug policy has failed to curb an epidemic killing an average of 150 people per day with synthetic opioids