Key facts
- The U.S. Justice Department unsealed five indictments against alleged leaders of the United Cartels.
- The United Cartels are described as a rival to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
- Charges include drug trafficking, violence, and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
- A U.S. judge granted the Justice Department's request to dismiss January 6 prosecutions against Oath Keepers militia members.
- Judge Amit Mehta expressed disappointment with the dismissal of Oath Keepers prosecutions.
- The U.S. Treasury removed counterterrorism sanctions from three IRGC-linked airlines.
- The U.S. Treasury removed counterterrorism sanctions from two aircraft.
- Fly Baghdad Airlines was among the entities sanctioned.
- A Treasury official stated the sanction removal does not signal a policy shift.
The U.S. Justice Department has unsealed five indictments targeting alleged high-ranking members of the United Cartels, a drug trafficking organization identified as a rival to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The charges brought against these individuals encompass drug trafficking, violence, and the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. This action by the Justice Department aims to dismantle a significant criminal enterprise involved in illicit substances.
In a separate legal development, a U.S. judge has granted the Justice Department's request to dismiss prosecutions related to the January 6 events against members of the Oath Keepers militia. Judge Amit Mehta, who presided over the case, expressed disappointment with this ruling, stating that it diminished the gravity of the January 6 events. The dismissal of these charges marks a significant turn in the legal proceedings against the militia members.
Furthermore, the U.S. Treasury has lifted counterterrorism sanctions from three airlines and two aircraft previously linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sanctioned entities include Fly Baghdad Airlines. A Treasury official emphasized that this decision does not signify a shift in U.S. policy regarding sanctions or counterterrorism efforts. The removal of sanctions applies to specific entities and aircraft, with the official clarifying the broader policy stance remains unchanged.