The Justice Department unsealed drug trafficking charges against Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and his brother Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, key figures in the resurgence of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana Organization (LNFM) cartel. The department has also announced a reward of up to $8 million for information that leads to their arrest.
The brothers are charged with several offenses linked to the production, distribution, and importation of large quantities of illegal drugs into the United States, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. The federal grand jury in Georgia, which brought the charges, accused them of fueling the cartel’s activities over the past decade.
“We hope these significant rewards will encourage people to come forward with information that could help us apprehend the Olascoaga brothers,” said Michael Herskowitz, Chief of the Narcotics Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We need the public’s help, especially those in areas most impacted by cartel violence.”
Johnny and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga are believed to be in Mexico, and both have been sanctioned by the Treasury Department. In addition to the DOJ’s charges, the State Department is offering $3 million for Johnny and $5 million for Jose in exchange for information that leads to their capture.
In a related development, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), acting in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, made significant strides in the fight against the cartel. In a 24-hour operation, they seized over 100 pounds of fentanyl, $320,000 in suspected drug proceeds, firearms, and arrested 22 individuals, including 11 with illegal immigration status.
“The foreign terrorist organization designation applied to these cartels has allowed law enforcement to use enhanced counterterrorism tactics to disrupt their operations,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA in Atlanta.
The Olascoaga brothers remain fugitives, and authorities continue to encourage the public to report any information that could lead to their arrest.
