The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions Wednesday targeting fentanyl distribution networks connected to the Sinaloa Cartel, designating more than 12 entities and individuals involved in drug trafficking operations.

The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned what officials described as two distinct networks linked to the cartel and its fentanyl trafficking activities. The sanctions are part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt the flow of fentanyl, which has contributed to a significant increase in overdose deaths across the country.

The Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organizations, has been identified by U.S. authorities as a major supplier of fentanyl to American markets. The synthetic opioid is often mixed with other drugs and has been linked to a surge in fatal overdoses.

The Treasury Department's action freezes any U.S. assets held by the sanctioned individuals and entities and prohibits American citizens and businesses from conducting transactions with them. The sanctions also target foreign persons who provide support to the designated networks.

Fentanyl trafficking has become a priority for U.S. law enforcement agencies as overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids have increased dramatically in recent years. The drug is often manufactured using precursor chemicals sourced from China and processed in clandestine laboratories in Mexico before being smuggled into the United States.