Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel Sanctioned by US Treasury for Fuel Theft and Violence
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Teh US Treasury Department has added the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL) to its financial blacklist, citing the organization’s extensive involvement in fuel theft and its contribution to escalating violence in Mexico. The sanctions, announced Wednesday, target the cartel’s operations in guanajuato state and aim to disrupt its illicit financial network.
The Treasury Department accused the CSRL of undermining US oil and gas companies and depriving the Mexican government of critical revenue by offering stolen fuel on the “cross-border energy black market.” This action underscores the US government’s commitment to combating transnational criminal organizations that threaten economic stability and security.
‘El Marro’ Continues to Lead From Prison
Despite being arrested in 2020 and initially incarcerated at the Altiplano prison, José Antonio Yépez ortiz, known as ‘El Marro,’ remains the leader of the CSRL and continues to issue instructions from behind bars. In July 2024, he was transferred to a prison in Durango, but authorities believe he maintains control through his lawyers and family members.
“‘El Marro’ operates from prison in Mexico,” a Treasury Department official stated, emphasizing the cartel’s resilience and ability to adapt even with its leader incarcerated.
Escalating Violence and Shifting Alliances
The conflict between the CSRL and the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) for control of the fuel and oil trade in Guanajuato has transformed the state into one of the most dangerous regions in Mexico. According to authorities, this violent struggle has fueled widespread corruption and instability.
Faced with pressure from the CJNG, the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel has reportedly forged alliances with othre criminal organizations, including the Gulf Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel, to bolster its position.
The ‘Bermuda Triangle’ of Fuel Theft
The CSRL operates primarily within what the Treasury Department refers to as the “Bermuda Triangle,” encompassing the municipalities of León,Irapuato,Salamanca,and Celaya in Guanajuato. this area is strategically important due to the presence of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipelines and a functioning refinery.
The cartel employs a sophisticated network to steal fuel, including bribing and threatening pemex employees, illegally tapping pipelines, and hijacking tanker trucks. The stolen hydrocarbons are then sold on the black market in Mexico, the United states, and Central America. Intermediaries often mislabel the fuel “as used oil” to evade taxes, and the product is ultimately sold at meaningful discounts in US and global energy markets.
“Through these maneuvers, Mexican cartels steal billions of dollars from pemex, fuel rampant violence and corruption in Mexico, and undermine the operations of legitimate oil and natural gas companies in the United States,” the Treasury Department explained.
Implications of US Sanctions
The US government’s sanctions against the CSRL have significant implications for the organization’s financial operations. All assets and interests of the sanctioned entity within the United States are now blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Moreover, any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by 50% or more by one or more blocked persons is also subject to the sanctions. This broad reach aims to cripple the cartel’s ability to move money and conduct business, even through shell companies or intermediaries. The sanctions represent a significant escalation in the US effort to disrupt the financial networks of Mexican drug cartels and address the growing threat of fuel theft and related violence.
Pro tip: Understanding the cartel’s operational area, the “Bermuda Triangle,” is key to grasping the scale of their fuel theft operations.
