“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
In addition to Alonso Guerrero Covarrubias, “El 08”, there is his brother Javier and Mary Cruz Rodríguez Aguirre.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday designated two members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) for trafficking high caliber weapons from the U.S. and fuel theft in Mexico.
In addition, it designated another individual and a Mexican company accused of laundering money for the CJNG.
Those named by US authorities are Alonso Guerrero Covarrubias, alias “El Ocho,” and Javier Guerrero Covarrubias, who it claims are “experienced and violent members of the CJNG engaged in various criminal activities, including arms trafficking from the United States into Mexico, fuel theft, and drug trafficking activities.
El 08 is a godson of El Mencho and is currently in prison.
El 08
Mary Cruz Rodríguez Aguirre was also sanctioned this Tuesday for running a money laundering network from Jalisco, moving illicit funds between the United States and our country, including in the name of the CJNG.
According to US authorities, Rodriguez Aguirre works as a broker for CJNG regional commander Audias Flores Silva, coordinating the logistics of drug proceeds from the United States to Mexico. On April 13, 2021 OFAC identified Audias Flores Silva as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and the State Department announced a reward offer through its narcotics reward program of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest.
As a result of the sanctions, all assets and interests in assets of the designated individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.
In addition, any entity owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons is also blocked.
OFAC regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting through the United States).
“CJNG relies on a network of criminal activity that fundamentally strengthens its ability to traffic fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States. Today’s action disrupts key support networks engaged in arms trafficking, fuel theft, and laundering drug proceeds,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico.