A Mexican national has been indicted in Texas on federal terrorism support charges for allegedly helping supply grenades to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), marking the first case of its kind in the United States. The Justice Department unsealed the indictment on May 16 following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and multiple law enforcement partners.

Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 39, is accused of attempting to provide material support to CJNG, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization. The indictment also charges her with firearms trafficking, narcotics trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and human smuggling, says ICE.

Mexican national Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez has been charged in Texas with providing material support to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, a group labeled as a foreign terrorist organization. Read more at https://t.co/syVbthOy05. #OperationTakeBackAmerica #WeAreATF pic.twitter.com/XWJtZE6OdB

— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) May 16, 2025

On February 20, the State Department formally designated CJNG and seven other international cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and specially designated global terrorists. The new classification gives federal agencies broader authority to pursue harsher criminal charges and disrupt cartel operations more aggressively.

“The arrest of Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez should send a clear message to people who wish to align themselves with terrorist groups that they will be sought out and held to the highest extent of the law,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.

María del Rosario Navarro-Sánchez, alias #LaChayo, fue acusada formalmente por Estados Unidos por presuntamente haber proporcionado apoyo material al CJNG, considerado como organización t3rr0r1sta extranjera.
Vía: @elalbertomedina pic.twitter.com/zbeNmVnq3l

— Estefania (@diaztoquero1) May 16, 2025

Two co-defendants were also charged. Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 27, faces charges related to alien smuggling and firearms trafficking. Gustavo Castro-Medina, 28, is charged with firearms offenses and drug trafficking. All three are Mexican nationals.

According to prosecutors, Navarro-Sanchez played a central role in CJNG’s cross-border criminal network. She is accused of attempting to supply the cartel with grenades, while also engaging in illegal firearms deals and drug distribution activities.

“As alleged, the defendant engaged in multiple of the most insidious kinds of criminal activity: firearms trafficking, narcotics trafficking, human and bulk cash smuggling, and even providing grenades to CJNG,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

CJNG operates throughout most of Mexico and has expanded into dozens of countries, including the United States. The cartel is known for violent tactics including drone attacks, use of military-grade weapons, and assassinations. The group plays a major role in trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics into the U.S.

“Cartels like CJNG are terrorist groups that wreak havoc in American communities and are responsible for countless lives lost in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere.” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This announcement demonstrates the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to securing our borders and protecting Americans through effective prosecution.”

The case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, the FBI, ATF, and DEA, with support from the U.S. Border Patrol and several international partners including Mexican law enforcement.

President Trump directed federal agencies in January to prioritize the full elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations. Officials say such groups not only fuel drug violence but are also responsible for large volumes of illegal immigration and other national security threats.

“We will never allow criminal gangs and cartels to terrorize American communities,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “The days of unchecked gang and cartel violence are over.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman said the charges send a message to cartels and their collaborators that U.S. law enforcement is stepping up pressure. “These crimes, all included as allegations in the indictment, do nothing but place human lives on both sides of the border in grave danger, while loading the pockets of criminals who profit off of them,” she said.

“Supplying grenades to a designated terrorist organization — while trafficking firearms, narcotics, and human beings — is not just criminal; it’s a direct assault on the security of the United States,” said ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons. “Sanchez acted as a key enabler of violence who empowered cartels and terrorist organizations.”

Since its formation, Joint Task Force Alpha has led to hundreds of arrests, convictions, and asset seizures tied to cartel operations. Investigators say this latest indictment underscores the scale and complexity of modern cartel threats.

“This case lays bare the true nature of the threat we face,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert Murphy. “A cartel associate providing support to a designated foreign terrorist organization is not just a criminal threat — it is a national security threat.”