A federal indictment unsealed today in the Western District of Texas marks a historic first—charging a Mexican national with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The charges stem from her ties to Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), including supplying grenades and engaging in alien smuggling, firearms trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and drug trafficking.
“Cartels like CJNG are terrorist groups that bring devastation to American communities and claim countless lives across the U.S., Mexico, and beyond,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This case shows our unshakable resolve to secure our borders and prosecute those who threaten public safety.”
According to court documents, 39-year-old Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez of Mexico conspired to supply CJNG—an officially designated foreign terrorist organization—with grenades. She’s also charged with smuggling and transporting undocumented migrants, straw purchasing and trafficking firearms, bulk cash smuggling, and conspiring to distribute controlled substances.
Co-defendants include 27-year-old Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, accused of smuggling migrants and trafficking firearms, and 28-year-old Gustavo Castro-Medina, facing similar firearms charges along with drug distribution conspiracies.
On February 20, the U.S. State Department officially designated eight international cartels, including CJNG, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This classification allows for stronger legal actions in protecting the nation’s borders. CJNG, a transnational criminal powerhouse, dominates the narcotics trade across Mexico and operates in multiple countries, including the U.S. Beyond trafficking fentanyl, CJNG commits acts of bribery, extortion, migrant exploitation, and armed violence. The group has reportedly attacked Mexican forces with military-grade weapons, dropped explosives via drones, and targeted Mexican officials for assassination.
On January 20, President Trump directed the Justice Department and allied agencies to eradicate cartels and transnational criminal networks, labeling them as urgent threats to national security. These organizations facilitate large-scale illegal immigration and commit a range of violent crimes, including drug and arms trafficking and money laundering. Their operations span across North and South America, with complex international networks. The Justice Department is working relentlessly to dismantle these threats, enforce immigration laws, and deploy every law enforcement tool available.
“We will not allow cartels and criminal gangs to terrorize our communities,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “The era of unchecked violence ends now.”
“The defendant stands accused of some of the most dangerous crimes—narcotics and firearms trafficking, human smuggling, and even providing grenades to CJNG,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Chief of the Criminal Division. “This case reflects our division’s deep commitment to dismantling foreign terrorist networks like CJNG.”
“These serious federal charges send a powerful message to cartels like CJNG and their enablers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “These crimes endanger lives on both sides of the border while enriching criminal enterprises.”
“The arrest of Navarro-Sanchez should serve as a stark warning to anyone considering alignment with terrorist organizations—they will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “I’m incredibly proud of our agents and partners who work tirelessly to keep Americans safe.”
“The violence cartels unleash is destroying communities across the globe,” said ATF Acting Director Dan Driscoll. “The arrest of Navarro-Sanchez showcases what international cooperation can achieve. We remain committed to tracking down and bringing to justice anyone who enables these violent networks.”
“This case exposes the true threat we face,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “Supporting a terrorist cartel like CJNG isn’t just a criminal act—it’s a national security crisis. DEA will use every available tool to bring down CJNG and its network of traffickers, smugglers, and killers.”
“Providing grenades to a terrorist organization while trafficking drugs, firearms, and humans is more than criminal—it’s a direct attack on U.S. security,” said Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “Navarro-Sanchez wasn’t just smuggling people—she helped empower violent organizations and jeopardized countless lives. Today’s action represents a unified government effort to shut down these threats and bring those responsible to justice.”
