The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned the Cartel of the Suns, led by Nicolás Maduro, for its support of terrorist groups like the Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel. Discover the implications of these measures against narcoterrorism.
In a significant move to combat narcoterrorism, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Treasury Department has designated the Cartel of the Suns as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This criminal organization based in Venezuela, led by Nicolás Maduro Moros and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials, is accused of providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations that threaten the peace and security of the United States, specifically the Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Exposing Narcoterrorism under the Maduro Regime
“Today’s action further exposes the facilitation of narcoterrorism by Maduro’s illegitimate regime through terrorist groups like the Cartel of the Suns,” stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He reaffirmed the Treasury Department’s commitment to “putting the United States first by combating violent organizations like the Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and their enablers, such as the Cartel of the Suns.”
Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel: Violent Narcoterrorists
The Cartel of the Suns has been sanctioned for its support of both the Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, both designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) by the State Department on February 20, 2025.
The Tren de Aragua, originating from Venezuela, is involved in a wide range of illicit activities, including drug trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation of women and children, and money laundering.
The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the oldest and most powerful cartels in Mexico, is responsible for a significant portion of the deadly drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, trafficked to the U.S. from Mexico, and is known for its widespread violence.
These designations underscore the severe threat these groups pose to global security and public health.
Revealing the Cartel of the Suns
The Cartel of the Suns, named after the sun insignias often seen on the uniforms of Venezuelan military officers, is headed by Maduro and other high-ranking figures of the regime. It is alleged that these individuals have corrupted Venezuelan governmental institutions, including the military, intelligence apparatus, legislative, and judicial powers, to facilitate drug trafficking into the United States. The cartel is specifically noted for supporting the Tren de Aragua in its goal of using illegal drugs as a weapon against the U.S. and for its direct support to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Implications of the Sanctions
As a result of this action, all properties and interests in properties of the Cartel of the Suns located in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. This also applies to any entity that is owned, whether directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, of 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving blocked persons.
Violations of U.S. sanctions can result in significant civil or criminal penalties. Additionally, foreign financial institutions that engage in certain transactions with the designated entity risk facing secondary sanctions, which could affect their ability to operate in the U.S. financial system.
OFAC emphasizes that the ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to achieve positive behavior change, and there are established processes for requesting removal from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List).