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US offers $13m reward for arrest of United Cartels leader
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Members of Mexico's federal forces escort prisoners wanted in the US for ties to drug-trafficking groups into a plane, on Aug 12.
WASHINGTON - The United States offered a US$10 million (S$13 million) reward on Aug 14 for information leading to the arrest of Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, head of the Mexican drug trafficking group Carteles Unidos.
Farias Alvarez, nicknamed 'El Abuelo', or the grandfather, was one of five high-ranking members of Carteles Unidos – United Cartels in English – whose criminal indictments were unsealed by the Justice Department on Aug 14.
'Today's charges are designed to dismantle the United Cartels and bring their leaders to justice for unleashing death and destruction on American citizens,' Attorney-General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.
The US Treasury Department simultaneously announced it was imposing sanctions on members of United Cartels and another group known as Los Viagras.
'Treasury, alongside our partners in US law enforcement, will continue to target every effort by the cartels to generate revenue for their violent, criminal schemes,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
The State Department designated the Michoacan-based United Cartels and other drug trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organisations in February.
Aside from Farias Alvarez, rewards of US$5 million each were announced for Nicolas Sierra Santana, known as 'El Gordo', and Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, known as 'Poncho', and US$3 million each for Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, known as 'Wicho', and Edgar Orozco Cabadas, known as 'El Kamoni'.
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According to the Justice Department, United Cartels is a major supplier of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to the US.
'Profits from US drug sales are allegedly used to acquire heavy weaponry, hire mercenaries, bribe local officials, and fund lavish lifestyles for cartel leaders,' it said.
The announcement comes two days after Mexico transferred 26 wanted fugitives to the US, including several high-ranking members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel.
The transfer was the second since Republican Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
In late February, Mexico sent 29 accused drug traffickers to the US, including Rafael Caro Quintero, who was accused of kidnapping and killing US drug enforcement special agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena in 1985. AFP
