The United States Department of State has announced visa restrictions against 75 individuals with close connections to the Sinaloa Cartel, as the administration of Donald Trump intensifies its crackdown on drug trafficking.
In a statement released Monday, the department said those affected were not publicly identified but include family members as well as close personal and business associates of cartel figures already sanctioned under Executive Order 14059, which targets individuals involved in the global illicit drug trade.
According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, more than 325 individuals have been sanctioned under the order introduced during the administration of Joe Biden, including several linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
“Today’s actions underscore the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting the American people from the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
“Imposing visa restrictions on drug traffickers, their family members and close personal and business associates will not only prevent their entry into our nation, but also serve as a deterrent to continued illicit activities.”
Since returning to office, Trump has pursued an aggressive anti-narcotics strategy, introducing sanctions against countries such as Canada and China over allegations of inadequate efforts to curb drug flows, while also advancing extraditions and prosecutions tied to narcotics crimes.
One of the administration’s key moves came in February 2025, when it designated 10 drug cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, as terrorist organisations. The designation has since been used to justify military operations targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
In September, the Drug Enforcement Administration reported the arrest of 617 individuals as part of an operation aimed at dismantling the cartel’s network.
Data from the United States Department of the Treasury indicates that more than 600 individuals and entities associated with the cartel have been sanctioned over time under Executive Order 14059 and the Foreign Narcotic Kingpin Designation Act.
