Cartels · Wednesday, September 30, 2026
U.S. sanctions Sinaloa Cartel leadership around Mayito Flaco
The File desk · Sep 30, 2026, 10:15 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed (Treasury OFAC + State Department, Sept. 29, 2026 — administrative designations; named defendants in prior indictments remain subject to court process)
On Sept. 29, 2026, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nearly 50 people and companies tied to the Sinaloa Cartel, including Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as Mayito Flaco, whom Treasury describes as head of the Los Mayos faction after his father’s arrest. The package names Tijuana and Mexicali plaza bosses, money facilitators, and alleged political and police protectors in Baja California. The State Department said it is offering up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Tijuana bosses Alfonso Arzate Garcia (“Aquiles”) and Rene Arzate Garcia (“La Rana”), and up to $5 million for Mexicali leader “El Ruso.” The action cites Legal instrument A U.S. sanctions authority aimed at people and groups involved in international illicit drug trafficking and the means of producing those drugs. Legal instrument Blocks property of people and groups tied to terrorism and cuts them off from the U.S. financial system.Executive Order 14059
Executive Order 13224
On Sept. 29, 2026, the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nearly 50 targets tied to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The count in the release is 21 individuals and 25 entities.
One of them is Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as Mayito Flaco. Treasury describes him as head of the Los Mayos faction after his father’s arrest.
The release names Tijuana plaza bosses Alfonso Arzate Garcia, called Aquiles, and Rene Arzate Garcia, called La Rana.
It also names money facilitators, and it alleges corruption involving Carlos Alberto Torres Torres, described as the ex-husband of the Baja California governor, and Pedro Ariel Mendivil Garcia, a former Mexicali public-security director.
Those corruption claims are the department’s allegations in a sanctions release. They are not a new guilty verdict.
State Department spokesman Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said the same day that the United States is sanctioning 21 individuals and 25 entities tied to the cartel.
The Narcotics Rewards Program is offering up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Aquiles and of La Rana, and up to $5 million for Mexicali leader El Ruso.
Treasury cites Legal instrument A U.S. sanctions authority aimed at people and groups involved in international illicit drug trafficking and the means of producing those drugs. Legal instrument Blocks property of people and groups tied to terrorism and cuts them off from the U.S. financial system.Executive Order 14059
Executive Order 13224
The Treasury text refers to a 2014 Southern District of California case for Mayito Flaco and to a February 2026 superseding narcoterrorism indictment for Aquiles and La Rana. This desk did not pull those dockets. People named in indictments who have not been convicted remain subject to court process.
This is an administrative designation. It is not a new criminal judgment.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Immediate financial impact of freezes.
- Mexican government response is not in these primary releases.
- Status of prior Southern District of California cases beyond what Treasury summarized.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Treasury Sanctions Sinaloa Cartel Leadership and Corruption Networks
U.S. Department of the Treasury · September 29, 2026
OFAC sanctioned nearly 50 targets. The 21 individuals and 25 entities designated include cartel leader Ismael Zambada Sicairos (a.k.a. “Mayito Flaco”). Actions under
andLegal instrument
Executive Order 14059
A U.S. sanctions authority aimed at people and groups involved in international illicit drug trafficking and the means of producing those drugs.
as amended. Names Tijuana plaza bosses Alfonso and Rene Arzate Garcia.Legal instrument
Executive Order 13224
Blocks property of people and groups tied to terrorism and cuts them off from the U.S. financial system.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0636
Source 2
OFAC recent actions, Sept. 29, 2026
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control · September 29, 2026
OFAC recent-actions page lists Sept. 29, 2026 activity consistent with the Sinaloa and Iran packages.
https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20260929
Source 3
Sanctioning Sinaloa Cartel Leaders and Corrupt Enablers in Baja California
U.S. Department of State · September 29, 2026
Sanctioning 21 individuals and 25 entities tied to the Sinaloa Cartel. Narcotics Rewards Program offering up to $5 million each for Aquiles and La Rana, and up to $5 million for El Ruso.
https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesman/2026/09/sanctioning-sinaloa-cartel-leaders-and-corrupt-enablers-in-baja-california/