Mexican Drug War News: In Wake of ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s Capture, Attention Turns To Money-Laundering Businessmen

Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán was arrested over a month ago, and although his capture represented a massive boon for the government of Enrique Peña Nieto, it is but the tip of the tremendous iceberg that is the Mexican drug trade. The New York Times suggests that since then, the attention of American authorities has focused more specifically on the rich businessmen in Mexico who contribute to the drug trade by running enormous money laundering operations, chief amongst them being Hugo Cuéllar Hurtado.

Hugo Cuéllar Hurtado is a Colombian businessman who currently resides in Guadalajara, Mexico. Yet he is also one of the United States' most wanted criminals. Last month, the United States Treasury announced sanctions against Mr. Hurtado "for his material support to the narcotics trafficking activities of the Sinaloa Cartel," and, as a result, "all property and interests in property in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons in which the individuals and entities designated today have an interest, are blocked."

However, it seems as though Mexican authorities are less willing to keep up with America's investigation of shady business -- indeed, Mexican authorities have not commented on Mr. Hurtado's case. “There is not enough emphasis there on making it a priority,” said Alonzo Peña, a former deputy director at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “It took the U.S. a long time to focus on money. For a long time, it was ‘Let’s just go after the drugs.’ The U.S. has evolved,” he added. “Mexico is a little behind the curve and has not made as much of a shift from drugs to money.”