“Los Chapitos,” sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, known for their drug trafficking operations, have received another blow from the United States, this time with the sanctions on their assets and the pursuit of the networks of two of them: fugitives Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on June 9 the sanctions against these two members of the Guzmán family of the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS).
President Trump’s order is clear: eliminate the drug cartels,” warned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, when announcing the measure, which includes sanctions against a network of companies based in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, engaged in money laundering, kidnapping, and extortion.
THE ‘BUSINESSMEN’
However, the sanctions were extended to two businessmen, José Raúl Núñez Ríos, “El Lic,” and Sheila Paola Urías Vázquez, a husband and wife, known in Mazatlán as “entrepreneurs” in the restaurant, real estate, hospitality, and beauty salon sectors, among others.
OFAC accused them of involvement in the “Los Chapitos” network, acting as front men and laundering money through at least 10 companies located in this tourist port.
Beach y Marina, S.A. de C.V.
Club Playa Real, S.A. de C.V.
Proyecta Interna, S.A. de C.V.
Eco Campestres Ultra, S.A.P.I. de C.V.
IMB 24 Siete, S.A. de C.V.
MKT 24 Siete, S.A. de C.V.
Mue Renta Y Venta de Vestidos
Carpe Diem Spa
Sea Wa Beach Club, S.A. de C.V.
Comercializadora Copado, S.A. de C.V.
Núñez’s wife, Sheila Paola Urías Vázquez, is a makeup artist residing in Mazatlán who is also involved in her husband’s criminal network as the nominal owner of several entities, including a spa, a beauty salon, real estate, and hospitality businesses. Núñez has used and continues to use Urías as a front man to operate companies in his name.”
Since September 2024, flyers distributed in Culiacán, Mazatlán, and Los Mochis, which also accuse Morena Governor Rubén Rocha of alleged ties to “Los Chapitos,” had already been identified by Núñez Ríos and Urías Vázquez for their actions.
BARRAZA, EL ’40’
US authorities also named Víctor Manuel Barraza Pablos, “El 40,” a Culiacán native and “Los Chapitos” plaza boss in Mazatlán, as part of the criminal network, not only for drug trafficking but also for money laundering.
Many of Barraza’s nefarious activities are financed by Mexican businessman José Raúl Núñez Ríos. Núñez, a close associate of Iván (Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar) and Barraza, He seems to have gotten rich in a short time.”
“El 40” was born on July 17, 1990, and replaced Luis Ángel Castañeda “El Titán” in Mazatlán.
As of yesterday, he was registered on the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) list, meaning all his assets in the United States will be frozen, and all individuals and legal entities that engage in financial transactions with him will be sanctioned.
Source: reforma
