DOJ Charges Mexican National For Allegedly Supporting Terrorist Gang
In a landmark move underscoring the Trump administration’s commitment to law and order, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday that a Mexican national has been indicted for providing material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a violent drug cartel newly designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The indictment, unsealed in the Western District of Texas, is the first of its kind under this legal framework. Prosecutors charge that the accused, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 39, was involved in an array of crimes on behalf of CJNG—including supplying grenades, trafficking firearms, distributing narcotics, smuggling cash, and facilitating illegal immigration.
“Cartels like CJNG are terrorist groups that wreak havoc in American communities and are responsible for countless lives lost in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere,” stated Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This announcement demonstrates the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to securing our borders and protecting Americans through effective prosecution.”
Navarro-Sanchez is accused of conspiring with others to provide military-grade explosives to the cartel, which the State Department recently labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). She also faces charges for her role in smuggling illegal immigrants, trafficking weapons, laundering bulk cash, and attempting to distribute controlled substances within the U.S.
She is not alone. Two other individuals, also Mexican nationals, are facing related charges. Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 27, is alleged to have participated in both human and arms trafficking operations. Gustavo Castro-Medina, 28, is accused of trafficking weapons and drugs.
The Justice Department’s announcement follows the February 20 designation by the U.S. Department of State that officially classified eight international drug cartels, including CJNG, as FTOs. “This designation makes available much stronger criminal charges in the fight to secure our nation’s borders,” the DOJ noted. CJNG is recognized as one of the most dangerous and influential transnational criminal organizations, with operations extending across Mexico and into the United States and dozens of other countries.
Beyond its role in fentanyl distribution—a drug responsible for a surge in overdose deaths—CJNG engages in an array of criminal enterprises: money laundering, bribery, extortion of migrants, and brutal acts of violence including the use of drones to drop explosives on Mexican law enforcement.
According to the State Department, CJNG has carried out targeted assassinations and launched armed assaults against Mexican military and police units, wielding military-grade firepower.
“We will never allow criminal gangs and cartels to terrorize American communities,” declared Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “The days of unchecked gang and cartel violence are over.”
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division, emphasized the grave nature of the charges. “As alleged, the defendant engaged in multiple of the most insidious kinds of criminal activity: firearms trafficking, narcotics trafficking, human and bulk cash smuggling, and even providing grenades to CJNG,” Galeotti said. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the Criminal Division’s hard work and commitment to eliminate cartels and foreign terrorist organizations like CJNG.”
In a related case, the DOJ revealed that Freddy Arnoldo Salazar Flores—a representative of the Central American Parliament—has been indicted in Washington, D.C., for conspiring to smuggle over five kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. between 2010 and 2017. Court documents detail his connections to Los Huistas, a Guatemalan-based drug trafficking network with ties to Mexican cartels.
“Between 2010 and 2014, the defendants allegedly received and transported approximately 50 metric tons of cocaine into Mexico for further distribution into the United States,” the DOJ stated.
This latest string of indictments marks a critical step in President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to dismantle foreign criminal networks, protect America’s borders, and bring justice to those who endanger U.S. sovereignty and safety.