18 August 2016: U.S. targets Mexican companies, individuals for aiding drug cartels
The United States on Tuesday targeted two Mexican companies, along with two Mexican men, for what it said was their role in assisting the infamous Sinaloa Cartel associated with drug lords Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. The U.S. Treasury Department formally identified Juan Manuel Alvarez Inzunza, whom it said was a money launderer, and Jose Olivas Chaidez, whom it said was a distributor, as specially designated narcotics traffickers for their role aiding the cartel.
The move allows any of the two men's assets in the United States to be frozen and prohibits Americans from doing business with them.
Last month, Mexican officials arrested one of the top suspected associates of Zambada. In June, an ally of Guzman was also arrested in Mexico.
Mexico has approved the extradition of Guzman, who was the world's most wanted drug kingpin until his capture in January, to the United States. However, authorities transferred him in May to a federal prison in the northern state of Chihuahua, saying security measures were being improved at Altiplano.
