U.S. sanctions La Linea cartel members linked to 2019 killings of Americans

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on senior members of the La Linea cartel, linked to the 2019 killings of nine Americans in Mexico. This action targets five individuals and two companies involved in drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl. These sanctions follow a 2022 court ruling that ordered La Linea to pay $4.6 billion to the victims' families. The U.S. aims to disrupt the flow of fentanyl, a major contributor to rising overdose deaths. The Biden administration has intensified efforts against fentanyl trafficking, including the establishment of a Counter-Fentanyl Strike Force. Over the past two years, more than 350 individuals and firms connected to drug trafficking have been sanctioned.