In a surprising development, two Mexico-based businesses, an ice cream chain and a pharmacy, have been linked to the ruthless Sinaloa cartel by the U.S. Treasury Department. The cartel is responsible for a significant portion of fentanyl trafficking into the U.S., causing an alarming number of overdose deaths annually.
The ice cream chain, Nieves y Paletas, was established by Jesús Norberto Larrañaga Herrera, also known as "El 30," and Karla Gabriela Lizárraga Sánchez using drug proceeds. Meanwhile, a retail pharmacy and convenience store in Sonora was tied to José Arnoldo Morgan Huerta, nicknamed "Chachio," and his brother Juan Carlos Morgan Huerta, a high-ranking member of the cartel.
These industries might seem unrelated to drug trafficking, but they are merely a cover for the cartel's illicit activities. The cartel uses its earnings from international drug trafficking to fund businesses, launder money, and finance its operations.
The U.S. government is taking a stance against the cartel's money laundering tactics by sanctioning these businesses. This move is part of a broader effort to combat the global threat posed by drug trafficking.
