The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that helps disrupt the financial networks of major Mexican drug cartels and other transnational criminal organizations, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica announced.

The reward is part of the State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program, which seeks intelligence on how these organizations fund their operations. U.S. officials say the cartels have fueled widespread violence across the Western Hemisphere, including an armed attack on a U.S. Consulate in Mexico.

These groups finance themselves through narcotics trafficking, fuel theft, extortion, kidnapping, migrant smuggling, and other illicit businesses. Officials warn that their activities have pushed deadly drugs, violent criminals, and criminal gangs into the United States.

The State Department identified the criminal organizations as major threats including the Mexico based Cártel del Golfo (CDG/Gulf Cartel/Osiel Cárdenas-Guillén Organization), Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG/Jalisco New Generation Cartel), Cártel del Noreste (CDN/Northeast Cartel/Los Zetas), Cártel de Sinaloa, Cárteles Unidos (CU/United Cartel/Tepalcatepec Cartel), and La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM).

The alert also includes Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) originally founded in Los Angeles, U.S.,  MS-13 expanded to Central America after mass deportations and the Tren de Aragua (TdA/Aragua Train) based in Venezuela.

The RFJ program is specifically seeking tips on how these groups move and manage money, including:

• Financial contributions from donors and facilitators.

• Large transactions through banks or exchange houses.

• Front companies and cartel-owned businesses.

• Fuel theft and other illegal revenue streams.

• International transfers of money or supplies.

Information can be submitted through the RFJ website or by calling 1-202-702-7843.

In February 2025, the State Department officially designated CDG, CJNG, CDN, the Sinaloa Cartel, CU, LNFM, MS-13, and TdA as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). The move followed Executive Order 14157, issued on January 20, 2025, which declared the groups a national security threat beyond the scope of traditional organized crime.

Established in 1984 under the Act to Combat International Terrorism, RFJ is run by the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Since its creation, the program has expanded to cover rewards related to terrorism, foreign election interference, cybercrime, and North Korea.

The reward announcement comes as Washington deepens its cooperation with Costa Rica against drug trafficking. Recently, the U.S. Embassy donated two container scanners worth $19.5 million to strengthen port security and combat smuggling operations.