The United States has filed terrorism charges against a Mexican woman accused of helping a drug cartel. Authorities identified the suspect as Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, a 39-year-old Mexican citizen. She was charged with providing grenades and other weapons to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organisations.
The case marks the first time the U.S. has used terrorism laws against someone accused of helping a cartel. Officials say Navarro-Sanchez also helped with smuggling activities involving migrants, guns, drugs, and money across the U.S.-Mexico border.
She was arrested on May 4 and now faces several federal charges. Two other Mexican citizens were also arrested as part of the same case. Authorities released images showing several firearms, large amounts of meth and fentanyl, and a golden AR-15 rifle, nicknamed El Dorado, allegedly found with Navarro-Sanchez during her arrest in Mexico.
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Cartels Now Labeled as Terrorist Threats
This case comes after a new U.S. policy began labeling violent Latin American gangs as foreign terrorist organisations. The shift started during President Donald Trump’s second term. On January 20, he signed an executive order stating that international cartels are a national security threat, not just criminal groups.
By February 19, the U.S. Federal Register had listed eight gangs under the terrorism label, including CJNG, MS-13, and other groups from Venezuela and Haiti. The goal is to use terrorism laws to crack down harder on these organisations, which the U.S. says are responsible for thousands of deaths both at home and abroad.
With this new label, it becomes a serious federal crime to provide any support to these groups — whether it’s money, weapons, or services. U.S. officials argue that treating cartels like terrorist groups gives them more power to go after those involved in violent trafficking networks.
Speaking about the case, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that cartels like CJNG are responsible for devastating communities and countless lost lives. She said the case reflects the Justice Department’s firm stance on protecting the country by prosecuting those who aid these groups.
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ICE: Grenade Supply is a Threat to National Security
Officials say the actions of Navarro-Sanchez go far beyond drug trafficking. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), she directly helped supply grenades to a terrorist-designated group. That, combined with her alleged role in smuggling weapons, narcotics, and people, represents a major threat.
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons called her actions a “direct assault on the security of the United States.” He added that giving dangerous weapons like grenades to such organisations isn’t just illegal — it places both American and Mexican lives at risk.
Photographs released by ICE as part of the case show a range of high-powered firearms, including the golden AR-15, and packages believed to contain methamphetamine and fentanyl, two highly addictive and deadly drugs.
This case signals a major shift in how the U.S. handles cross-border cartel crime. With the terrorism label now in place, people who work with or support cartels — in any form — can face the same penalties as those who support terrorist groups.
Navarro-Sanchez is currently in custody, and legal proceedings are ongoing.