$10M Reward Offered for Sinaloa Cartel Leaders

U.S. State Department announces rewards for information leading to arrests of Tijuana Plaza bosses

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The U.S. Department of State is offering rewards of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrests of Sinaloa Cartel Tijuana Plaza bosses René Arzate-García and his brother Alfonso Arzate-García. The brothers have controlled the Tijuana trafficking corridor for the Sinaloa Cartel for 15 years through violence, corruption, and strategic alliances.

Why it matters

The Arzate-García brothers are key figures in sustaining Sinaloa Cartel operations, including the trafficking of deadly illicit fentanyl into U.S. communities. The Sinaloa Cartel has been designated as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. government.

The details

In 2014, the Arzate-García brothers were charged in the Southern District of California with drug trafficking offenses and have been fugitives since then. On August 9, 2023, they were also designated by the U.S. Treasury Department under an executive order targeting foreign persons involved in the global illicit drug trade. The new reward offers complement a superseding indictment against René Arzate-García, charging him with narcoterrorism, conducting a continuing criminal enterprise, material support to a foreign terrorist organization, international drug trafficking, and money laundering.

  • In 2014, the Arzate-García brothers were charged with drug trafficking offenses.
  • On August 9, 2023, the brothers were designated by the U.S. Treasury Department.
  • Today, the U.S. Department of State is announcing the reward offers.

The players

René Arzate-García

Also known as "La Rana," he is a Sinaloa Cartel Tijuana Plaza boss who has jointly controlled the Tijuana trafficking corridor for the past 15 years.

Alfonso Arzate-García

Also known as "Aquiles," he is the brother of René Arzate-García and a Sinaloa Cartel Tijuana Plaza boss who has jointly controlled the Tijuana trafficking corridor for the past 15 years.

U.S. Department of State

The U.S. government agency announcing the reward offers under the Narcotics Rewards Program.

DEA San Diego Division

The DEA division coordinating with the U.S. Department of State on the reward offers.

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California

The U.S. Attorney's Office coordinating with the U.S. Department of State on the reward offers.

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The takeaway

The U.S. government is taking aggressive action to target the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, by offering substantial rewards for information leading to the arrests of the Tijuana Plaza bosses who have controlled a critical drug trafficking corridor for years through violence, corruption, and strategic alliances.