EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — The United States and Mexico are expanding efforts to cut cartels off from the money that allows them to buy weapons and fentanyl ingredients, recruit members, and rebuild criminal networks.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson outlined the strategy during the CI-FIRST International Forum on Financial Crimes in Mexico City. The forum brought together financial experts, law enforcement agencies, government authorities and private-sector representatives from both countries.
Strong security presence at the US-Mexico border aims to disrupt cartel operations
“We are going after what hurts the cartels the most: their money,” Johnson said in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.
Two months ago, the State Department designated the Juarez cartel as a foreign terrorist organization. This designation allows the federal government to block the organization and its supporters from the United States financial system…