U.S. issues rewards and highlights sanctions for Sinaloa cartel leaders Arzate-García brothers
Date of publication: March 20, 2026
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of State have taken coordinated action against key Sinaloa Cartel operators, imposing sanctions and offering significant monetary rewards to disrupt illicit drug trafficking, including fentanyl, into the United States.
The new measures impose and announce:
- OFAC designation of Alfonso Arzate-García and René Arzate-García, Baja California-based "plaza bosses" for the Sinaloa Cartel, pursuant to Executive Order 14059 for activities that materially contribute to the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
- OFAC designation of Rafael Guadalupe Felix Nuñez, a Sinaloa Cartel leader in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, pursuant to Executive Order 14059 for activities that materially contribute to the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
- A reward of up to USD 5 million each, under the Narcotics Rewards Program, for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of Alfonso Arzate-García and René Arzate-García (as announced in the DEA notice).
Trade Measures
As a result of the OFAC designations, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC, and any entities owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
This action is part of a whole-of-government effort by the United States to counter the global threat posed by the trafficking of illicit drugs, including fentanyl and precursor chemicals, into the United States, and is coordinated closely with the Government of Mexico and multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Conclusion
These coordinated sanctions and reward measures increase pressure on key Sinaloa Cartel leaders by restricting their access to the U.S. financial system and incentivizing information leading to their apprehension.
Companies should ensure their restricted party screening and sanctions compliance programs are updated to include these OFAC-designated individuals and to prevent any dealings involving their property or interests in property.
These changes have been updated in ONESOURCE Global Trade Content.
For more information on how ONESOURCE Global Trade solutions can assist you in managing restricted party screening, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager.