San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche — The US Department of State has confirmed the existence and activation of a secret sanctions mechanism informally known as the "Marco List," targeting 44 Mexican political, administrative, and military figures over alleged ties to drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. Among those named is Campeche Governor Layda Sansores.
The "Marco List" and Its Targets
The list includes current governors Alfonso Durazo (Sonora), Rubén Rocha Moya (Sinaloa), Miguel Ángel Navarro (Nayarit), Américo Villarreal (Tamaulipas), Samuel García (Nuevo León), Layda Sansores (Campeche), and Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla (Michoacán).
Also cited are former governors and political leaders Enrique Alfaro (Jalisco), Ricardo Monreal Ávila (Senate), and Adán Augusto López (Chamber of Deputies), as well as federal officials Mario Delgado (Education), Clara Luz Flores (Interior–Religious Affairs), and Manuel Bartlett Díaz (former head of the Federal Electricity Commission).
The list further identifies four active and retired generals involved in US-Mexico joint operations, along with mayors Eduardo Gattás (Ciudad Victoria), Erasmo González (Ciudad Madero), Cruz Pérez Cuéllar (Ciudad Juárez), and César Iván Sandoval (San Luis Río Colorado).
Enforcement and Legal Framework
The "Marco List" was developed by the US Department of State in coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The sanctions operate under US laws such as the Patriot Act, Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation legislation, and OFAC authorities, which are not subject to any bilateral agreements with Mexico. Key measures include:
- Immediate visa cancellations, including for family members of those sanctioned.
- Detentions and interrogations at the border.
- Freezing of US-based bank accounts and assets.
- Confidential alerts to Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
- Permanent bans on commercial dealings with US institutions.
Notable Cases
Among the most prominent cases is that of Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila and her husband, Carlos Torres, whose visas were revoked over alleged money laundering linked to drug trafficking contracts.
Additionally, Matamoros Mayor Alberto Granados Favila was detained for 14 hours at the US border, accused of supporting a municipal structure controlled by organized crime. Investigations suggest at least 15 of the 44 officials are involved in a fuel smuggling network known as "huachicol fiscal," allegedly led by Sergio Carmona Angulo, who has been tied to campaign financing for the Morena party in northeastern Mexico.
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