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Terrorism

First Indictment in the Nation Charges Mexican National with Supporting Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The US Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, a 39-year-old Mexican national, with providing material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacin (CJNG), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Navarro-Sanchez is accused of conspiring with others to provide grenades to CJNG and engaging in various forms of trafficking, including alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, and narcotics trafficking. This case marks the first in the nation to charge a Mexican national with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The indictment alleges that Navarro-Sanchez, a high-ranking member of CJNG, provided the cartel with grenades and supported its operations in various ways. The cartel is known for its involvement in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, bribery, extortion of migrants, and other forms of organized crime. CJNG has also been linked to attacks on Mexican military and police, the use of drones to drop explosives on law enforcement, and assassinations or attempted assassinations of Mexican officials.

Key Takeaways:

  • Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, a 39-year-old Mexican national, has been charged with providing material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacin (CJNG), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
  • Navarro-Sanchez is accused of conspiring with others to provide grenades to CJNG and engaging in various forms of trafficking, including alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, and narcotics trafficking.
  • CJNG is a transnational criminal organization that controls a significant portion of the narcotics trafficking trade and has a presence in nearly every part of Mexico and dozens of other countries, including the United States.
  • The cartel is known for its involvement in narcotics trafficking, money laundering, bribery, extortion of migrants, and other forms of organized crime.
  • CJNG has also been linked to attacks on Mexican military and police, the use of drones to drop explosives on law enforcement, and assassinations or attempted assassinations of Mexican officials.
  • The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.
  • The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, and HSI, and relied on substantial assistance from Mexican law enforcement partners.
  • The indictment highlights the Justice Department's commitment to securing the border and protecting Americans through effective prosecution.

Statistics:

  • Navarro-Sanchez is charged with conspiracy to smuggle and transport aliens in the United States, straw purchasing and trafficking in firearms, bulk cash smuggling conspiracy, and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
  • CJNG is a transnational criminal organization that controls a significant portion of the narcotics trafficking trade and has a presence in nearly every part of Mexico and dozens of other countries.
  • The cartel has been linked to attacks on Mexican military and police, the use of drones to drop explosives on law enforcement, and assassinations or attempted assassinations of Mexican officials.
  • Since its establishment, Joint Task Force Alphas (JTFA) has resulted in:

+ Increased coordination and collaboration between domestic and foreign law enforcement

+ Precedent-setting indictments, extraditions, and prosecutions

+ Over 365 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of these crimes

+ Over 334 U.S. convictions

+ Over 281 defendants sentenced, including significant jail sentences imposed

+ Substantial seizures and forfeitures of assets and contraband, including millions of dollars in cash, real property, vehicles, firearms, and ammunition

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of Justice press release, "Mexican National Charged with Providing Material Support to Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization" (no date specified)
  • U.S. Department of State, "Designation of Eight International Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations" (February 20, 2022)
  • White House, "President Trump Directs Justice Department and Other Agencies to Pursue Total Elimination of Cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations" (January 20, 2022)
  • DEA, "El Paso Division"
  • ATF, "Dallas Field Division"
  • FBI, "El Paso Field Office"
  • HSI, "El Paso Field Office"

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