Sinaloa Cartel Named Terror Group in First Narco-Terrorism Case

In a landmark case reshaping the fight against transnational crime, the United States Department of Justice has unsealed the first-ever federal indictment charging leaders of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa Cartel with narco-terrorism and providing material support to terrorism. This marks a pivotal escalation in efforts to disrupt the global narcotics trade and combat cartel-linked violence and corruption.

Sinaloa Cartel Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organisation

The charges follow the formal designation of the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) by the Secretary of State on 20 February 2025, acting under Executive Order 14157. This classification enables U.S. prosecutors to leverage terrorism-related statutes traditionally reserved for international jihadist threats.

Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son Pedro Inzunza Coronel, alleged leaders of the Beltran Leyva Organisation (BLO), a powerful faction within the Sinaloa Cartel, now face charges including narco-terrorism, international drug trafficking, money laundering, and operating a continuing criminal enterprise. The pair is accused of running the world’s largest known fentanyl production network, responsible for trafficking tens of thousands of kilograms of the deadly opioid into the United States.

1.5 Tonne Fentanyl Seizure: Largest in History

On 3 December 2024, Mexican authorities raided multiple cartel-run sites in Sinaloa, seizing 1,500 kilograms of fentanyl in the world’s largest-ever seizure of the substance. Additional seizures include 1,680 kilograms of cocaine in Mexico City and high-profile fentanyl branding using “Louis Vuitton” and “Rolls Royce” imprints, signalling a growing cartel focus on visual marketing of synthetic drugs.

The BLO, under Inzunza Noriega’s leadership, operates with violent impunity across numerous Mexican territories, including Tijuana. It is reputed for brutal enforcement tactics including murder, torture, kidnappings and targeting public officials.

Unprecedented Legal Strategy: Narco-Terrorism Prosecution

Attorney General Pamela Bondi described the indictment as a “novel, powerful legal response” to a “complex, dangerous terrorist organisation.” The case is the first to be brought by the newly created Narco-Terrorism Unit in the Southern District of California, established on 11 April under U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.

“This indictment is what justice looks like when the full measure of the Department of Justice is brought to bear against the Sinaloa Cartel,” Gordon stated. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and other federal agencies are leading the enforcement operation under the OCDETF (Organised Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force) umbrella.

Expansive Multi-Jurisdictional Charges

The indictment lists seven BLO figures, including:

• Pedro Inzunza Noriega (62), aka “Sagitario” – Believed to command the largest fentanyl production infrastructure worldwide

• Pedro Inzunza Coronel (33), aka “Pichon” – Co-leader and key logistics coordinator

• Additional co-defendants include operatives from Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica

Charges span terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering, with potential penalties including life imprisonment and fines exceeding $20 million.

Key Charges Summary:

• Narco-Terrorism (21 U.S.C. §§ 960a, 841) – Life imprisonment, minimum 20 years

• Material Support to Terrorism (18 U.S.C. § 2339B) – 20 years imprisonment

• Continuing Criminal Enterprise (21 U.S.C. § 848(a)) – Life imprisonment

• Conspiracy to Import/Distribute Controlled Substances – Life imprisonment

• Money Laundering Conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)) – 20 years imprisonment

Pending indictments also exist against notorious cartel leaders such as Fausto Isidro Meza Flores (“Chapo Isidro”), Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe (“El Musico”), and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar (“El Chapito”), highlighting the strategic reach of this campaign.

A Turning Point in Cartel Prosecution

The designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist entities represents a turning point in U.S. strategy. By integrating counterterrorism frameworks into narcotics enforcement, the government aims to cripple the financial, operational and territorial power bases of criminal syndicates once seen as untouchable.

Operation Take Back America, under which this case falls, reflects a national directive to eliminate cartel influence and restore rule of law. This indictment not only advances justice for victims of narcotics violence but also reaffirms the United States' commitment to treating drug cartels as existential threats to public health and national security.

Read the press release here.