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Ambassador Johnson Calls for Cartel Money Seizures: “We Hit the Heart of Their Criminal Networks” Image: Especial
🇲🇽 Mexico /Crime & Justice

Ambassador Johnson Calls for Cartel Money Seizures: “We Hit the Heart of Their Criminal Networks”

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson urged Mexico to target the finances of drug-trafficking organizations and the people who facilitate their operations.
  • Speaking at the CI-FIRST International Financial Crimes Forum, Johnson said taking cartel money strikes at the center of their criminal networks.
  • He praised joint U.S.-Mexico operations and said corruption discourages investment, harms citizens and contributes to insecurity.

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson wants authorities to pursue the money that keeps drug cartels operating. At the opening of the CI-FIRST International Financial Crimes Forum, he called for stronger action against their financial resources and corruption.

“If we take away their drugs, they can try to replace them; if we take away their weapons, they can try to buy more, but when we take away the money that makes everything else possible, we hit the heart of their criminal networks,” Johnson said.

If we take away their drugs, they can try to replace them; if we take away their weapons, they can try to buy more, but when we take away the money that makes everything else possible, we hit the heart of their criminal networks.

— Ronald JohnsonThe U.S. ambassador argued that attacking cartel finances is more damaging than seizing drugs or weapons alone.

He urged authorities to target cartel resources “at every stage,” as well as the networks and individuals that enable criminal operations. Johnson described joint actions by the United States and Mexico, including operations, arrests and seizures, as “cooperation that produces results and closes spaces for the cartels.”

cooperation that produces results and closes spaces for the cartels

— Ronald JohnsonJohnson described joint U.S.-Mexico operations against criminal groups.

Johnson also highlighted cooperation against corruption. He said corruption “drives away investment, harms citizens and creates insecurity.” In the past, he said, governments worked separately, allowing criminal networks to exploit borders and launder money. Cooperation among Mexico, the United States and other international partners now makes it possible to close more avenues for the cartels.

The ambassador’s comments came a week after he said the United States had handed Mexico 10 people wanted for serious crimes. He said the fugitives faced cases involving kidnapping, drugs, weapons and cartel-related activities, but did not release their names or explain the legal mechanism used for the transfer. Johnson also said on July 30 that more than 300 fugitives sought by Mexico had been returned from the United States.

drives away investment, harms citizens and creates insecurity

— Ronald JohnsonJohnson listed the effects of corruption while calling for stronger cooperation against it.
About this summary

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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