Overview

• The U.S. Treasury Department imposed economic sanctions on five Mexican nationals and two companies associated with La Linea, a violent drug trafficking group.
• La Linea operates as the armed wing of the Juarez Cartel, smuggling fentanyl and other synthetic drugs into the United States.
• The sanctions are part of an ongoing effort to curb the flow of fentanyl, which is currently the deadliest drug in the U.S.
• The Biden administration has intensified actions against fentanyl traffickers, including sanctions against Chinese companies supplying precursor chemicals.
• Fentanyl trafficking remains a key political issue, with debates on its connection to immigration and border security central to the 2024 presidential race.