Fifteen Nations Targeted 24 Criminal Organizations
A new international coalition has pledged to sanction groups through frozen assets and restricted visas.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Drug Crime
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Fifteen governments signed a joint statement to apply financial and legal sanctions against 24 designated criminal organizations. The coalition aims to weaken groups including MS13, the Sinaloa Cartel, and Tren de Aragua.
Why it matters
This coalition formalizes a militarized anti-crime push across the region as Washington expands its campaign from maritime strikes onto land. The move is intended to disrupt the material support networks sustaining powerful cartels and gangs.
The joint statement targets 24 organizations currently designated as US Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Brazilian prosecutors also allege that the PCC group maintains control over 12 of the 22 bus companies in São Paulo.
The players
José Luis Pérez Villanueva
He served as the finance chief for the ACSN before his death on September 21.
The details
The agreement outlines plans to freeze assets and impose strict visa restrictions on individuals providing material support to these organizations. This diplomatic effort follows the deaths of seven ACSN members, including finance chief José Luis Pérez Villanueva, in a September 21 incident in Santa Marta.
Timeline
September 2025: US strikes on drug-trafficking boats began.
August 2026: Defense Secretary announced plans for land-based operations.
September 21, 2026: José Luis Pérez Villanueva and six others were killed in Santa Marta.
September 22, 2026: Coalition members signed the joint statement.
Legal Context
The coalition utilizes the US Foreign Terrorist Organization designation as a foundational framework for its multinational crackdown. This marks a shift toward leveraging established US legal precedents to harmonize international law enforcement against transnational criminal networks.
Residents in regions with high cartel activity may see intensified security measures as land-based operations expand. The sanctions target the financial infrastructure of these organizations, which could disrupt local services, such as the bus systems in cities like São Paulo.
The takeaway
This coordinated sanctions effort signals a significant escalation in the regional approach to dismantling transnational criminal infrastructure. Success will likely depend on the unified enforcement of asset freezes and border restrictions across the 15 member nations.
Further reading
For more on international efforts to combat illicit operations, visit the /crime/drug-crime/ section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by InSight Crime.
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