The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed an indictment against a 39-year-old Mexican national accused of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The charges stem from alleged ties to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a criminal group involved in transnational drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
According to federal court documents filed in the Western District of Texas, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez is accused of conspiring to provide grenades to the CJNG, in addition to participating in activities such as human smuggling, firearms trafficking, cash smuggling, and drug distribution.
This case marks the first time the DOJ has charged an individual in the U.S. for supplying a terrorist-designated cartel with military-grade weapons. Authorities also charged two other individuals:
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Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 27, of Mexico, is accused of involvement in human smuggling and firearms trafficking.
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Gustavo Castro-Medina, 28, of Mexico, is facing charges related to firearms trafficking and drug possession with intent to distribute.
The DOJ emphasized that the CJNG, identified in February by the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), has a wide presence across Mexico and operates in various countries, including the United States. The organization is known for its involvement in trafficking fentanyl, as well as engaging in money laundering, bribery, and acts of violence.
Officials also noted that CJNG has used advanced tactics, including attacks with military-grade weapons, drones equipped with explosives, and targeted violence against public officials.
In a separate development, Freddy Arnoldo Salazar Flores, a Guatemalan national and member of the Central American Parliament, was charged in Washington, D.C., for allegedly conspiring to transport over five kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. between 2010 and 2017. According to court filings, Salazar Flores and his associates operated through the criminal group Los Huistas, serving as a distribution link between South American suppliers and Mexican trafficking networks.
Federal officials have reiterated their focus on disrupting these criminal operations and safeguarding communities affected by international drug and weapons trafficking.
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