DOJ accuses two US residents of drug trafficking via crypto payments

He US Department of Justice. He presented charges against two people allegedly associated with the Sinaloa cartel, who would have used cryptocurrencies to specify drug production and trafficking.

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• A father and his son face charges in the US
• Blockchain analysis reveal millionaire payments in crypto to acquire fentanyl precursors
• The US government has begun to seize digital assets based on the terrorism order signed by Trump

The formal accusation against Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son Pedro Inzunza Coronel, revealed this week by him US Department of Justice (DOJ)has revealed the growing connection between organized crime, international drug trafficking and the use of cryptocurrencies.

Both accused are indicated as leaders of a vast drug trafficking network that operated on behalf of the Beltrán Leyva organizationan arm of the Sinaloa cartel. The accusation details the smuggling of tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin to US territory, paid with digital currencies.

The new digital front: Blockchain and drug trafficking

Although the positions of DOJ They focus on drug trafficking crimes, analysis carried out by companies specialized in transaction tracking Blockchain They have detected worrying patterns. The signatures Chainysis, TRM Labs and ElliptiC have linked the use of stable currencies and other cryptocurrencies to operations related to fentanyl production, details The Block.

A report from Chainysis, Published in March 2025, he revealed that payments were tracked for a total of USD $ 5.5 million in Stablecoins used by Latin American cartels to acquire chemical precursors from manufacturers in China. These transactions allowed the East District authorities of Wisconsin to seize the funds, in what has been considered an important legal precedent.

Besides, TRM Labs He identified that fentanyl precursors sellers in at least 26 Chinese cities accepted cryptocurrencies as a regular payment method. For its part, Elliptic He reported that illicit drug producers have received millions of dollars in digital assets during the most critical years of the opioid crisis in the United States.

This trend marks an evolution in drug trafficking operations. Traditionally based on physical routes and cash, criminal networks They now use sophisticated digital tools that allow them to move funds quickly and with less exposure to border controls.

Another report from Chainysis, From 2024 it also points to that, since 2015, chemical stores suspected of producing narcotics have received more than USD $ 250 million in cryptoactive. These findings suggest that digital infrastructure has become a key channel to finance illegal activities, evading traditional financial control mechanisms.

Legal Framework: The impact of the classification Fto

The action of DOJ It is part of a new policy promoted by President Donald Trump, who in January signed an executive order that allows international criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations to be designated (FTO). This classification enables the US government to seize assets, including cryptocurrencies, associated individuals or entities.

This new legal framework has been used by the US Treasury Department.that through the Foreign Assets Control Office (OFAC)sanctioned in September 2023 Ethereum Linked to Jiménez Castro, alleged member of the Sinaloa Cartel.

The sanctions imposed by OFAC They imply that regulated financial entities and platforms must block any transaction with affected wallets, thus reducing the ability of drug traffickers to move funds freely.

Challenges and answers in the digital age

The use of cryptocurrencies by criminal networks represents a growing challenge for justice systems. While transparency inherent to networks Blockchain It allows to trace transactions, decentralization and the existence of anonymity tools complicate the identification of users behind each Wallet.

Faced with this challenge, US agencies have increased their collaboration with private firms of digital forensic analysis. The synergy between the public and the private sector has allowed significant seizures to be executed and the foundations for more effective legislation in the near future.

However, experts warn that while cryptocurrencies remain attractive because of their speed and low transaction cost, criminal groups will continue to adapt to exploit their advantages.

Written article with the help of an AI content editor, edited by Angel Di Matteo / Diariobitcoin

Original image of Diariobitcoin, created with artificial intelligence, for free use, licensed under public domain

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