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First Terrorism Charges Filed Against Mexican National for Supporting CJNG

Maria Del Rosario Navarro Sanchez faces U.S. federal charges under a new legal framework targeting cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

This U.S. Justice Department handout shows firearms seized during the arrest of Mexican citizen Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, who faces federal charges over links to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) now deemed a "terrorist" organization.
A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room, January 24, 2023.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
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Overview

  • Maria Del Rosario Navarro Sanchez, 39, is the first individual charged under U.S. terrorism statutes for aiding a drug cartel designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
  • Navarro Sanchez allegedly supplied grenades, firearms, cash, narcotics, and migrant-smuggling services to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion
  • The charges follow the Trump administration's February 2025 designation of CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization, expanding enforcement tools against cartels.
  • She was arrested in Mexico on May 4, 2025, with a golden AR-15-style rifle, known as 'El Dorado,' reportedly found in her possession.
  • Two co-defendants also face related charges, including firearms trafficking and drug smuggling, as part of a broader crackdown on transnational criminal networks.