U.S. Targets Carteles Unidos Leaders With $26 Million in Rewards Following Indictments

For the second time this week, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury have announced charges and sanctions against a Mexican drug cartel.

After imposing sanctions on the Jalisco cartel for a timeshare fraud scheme, U.S. authorities are now targeting the group known as Cárteles Unidos, or United Cartels, with economic sanctions and have charged five high-ranking members of the organization in an effort to dismantle its criminal enterprise.

Among the measures taken by U.S. officials to weaken one of the most powerful criminal organizations in central Mexico, the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs also announced rewards of up to $26 million for information leading to the arrests or convictions of Juan José Farías Álvarez, also known as "El Abuelo," the alleged leader of Cárteles Unidos, and four other individuals linked to the Los Reyes cartel, a group U.S. authorities say operates under the Cárteles Unidos umbrella.

U.S. officials said that Cárteles Unidos began as an alliance of smaller cartels in the state of Michoacán, formed to prevent the incursion of larger groups such as the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) into the region.

InSight Crime reported that both organizations have been engaged in a violent conflict since at least 2019, when Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho," leader of the CJNG, ordered his forces to enter Michoacán and drive out El Abuelo and his allies.

The U.S. government is offering up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest of El Abuelo, who, according to court filings, directs the importation of cocaine from Colombia, personally oversees shipments to the United States, and imposes a tax on methamphetamine and fentanyl producers operating in his territory.

The remaining reward money is being offered for information on four other individuals, including the leader of Los Viagras, another Michoacán-based cartel that, until recently, operated under the United Cartels umbrella but has since aligned with the CJNG.

U.S. authorities have identified Nicolás Sierra Santana, alias "El Gordo," as the leader of Los Viagras and are offering up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest. According to reports, Los Viagras were founded in Huetamo, Michoacán, by seven brothers of the Sierra Santana family, but several of them have been either killed or arrested, leaving El Gordo as the head of the criminal enterprise.

The other three individuals charged by U.S. authorities are identified as members of Cárteles Unidos who are in charge of recruiting foreign mercenaries, bribing local officials, and funding lavish lifestyles for cartel leaders.

Alfonso Fernández Magallón, also known as "Poncho," has a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest. As noted by Infobae México, Fernández specializes in recruiting former Colombian military personnel and ex-police officers to reinforce the group's armed wing.

Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, also known as "Wicho," and Edgar Orozco Cabadas, alias "El Kamoni," were also included in the sanctions, and the U.S. government is offering a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to each of their arrest.

Barragán is a central figure in the Cárteles Unidos extortion network, particularly targeting avocado and lime producers in Michoacán. He is also involved in the transportation and distribution of methamphetamine into the United States.

According to reports, Orozco is a commander of armed cells within Cárteles Unidos. He is accused of coordinating attacks against security forces and rival groups, and is believed to oversee hitmen and plan ambushes in rural areas.

U.S. officials said in a statement that the five high-ranking cartel members participated in decades-long conspiracies to manufacture and distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, for illegal importation into the United States. If convicted, all five defendants face maximum sentences of life in prison.

"Thursday's charges are designed to dismantle the United Cartels and bring their leaders to justice for unleashing death and destruction on American citizens," Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. "Working closely with our partners throughout President Donald Trump's administration, we will continue our effort to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and hold those responsible accountable, wherever they may be."