A Stern Warning to Nations Harboring Criminals: The U.S. Takes Aim at CJNG’s Timeshare Fraud
The United States has issued a powerful rebuke to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), a Mexico-based narco-terrorist organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). On August 13, 2025, the U.S. announced sanctions targeting CJNG leaders and an affiliate orchestrating insidious timeshare fraud schemes out of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This action serves as a clarion call to all nations: harboring criminals who prey on the innocent will not be tolerated.
The CJNG, one of Mexico’s most violent and influential cartels, has sunk to new depths of depravity by exploiting American citizens through sophisticated fraud operations. Operating from call centers staffed with English-speaking telemarketers, these criminals impersonate brokers, attorneys, or government officials, deceiving victims into paying fraudulent “fees” and “taxes” for timeshare deals that never materialize. According to the FBI, U.S. victims—many of them elderly—lost nearly $300 million to these schemes between 2019 and 2023. The revenue from this deceit directly fuels CJNG’s narco-terrorist activities, perpetuating a cycle of violence and corruption that destabilizes communities and threatens global security.
This is not merely a financial crime; it is an assault on the rule of law and the safety of law-abiding citizens. The CJNG’s operations in Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, reveal a chilling truth: no place is immune to the reach of organized crime when governments fail to act decisively. Nations that turn a blind eye to such activities risk becoming havens for cartels, enabling their illicit enterprises to flourish at the expense of innocent people worldwide.
The United States’ response is resolute. By sanctioning CJNG leaders and their corporate networks, the U.S. is sending an unequivocal message: those who profit from the suffering of others will face severe consequences. The Treasury Department, in coordination with the FBI and the Department of Justice, is working tirelessly to dismantle the financial underpinnings of these criminal enterprises. Victims are urged to report incidents to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or, for elderly victims, the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11. These efforts underscore America’s unwavering commitment to protecting its citizens and upholding justice.
Let this serve as a warning to all countries: harboring criminals like the CJNG invites not only moral condemnation but also economic and diplomatic repercussions. The international community must unite to root out these predatory organizations, ensuring that no nation becomes a safe haven for those who exploit and terrorize. Failure to act emboldens cartels, undermines global stability, and betrays the trust of citizens who deserve safety and justice. The United States has taken a stand—other nations must follow suit.
**Sources:**
– U.S. Department of State Press Statement, August 13, 2025
– FBI Data on Timeshare Fraud Losses, 2019-2023
– Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline