U.S. sanctions six persons tied to Mexican drug gang

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday blacklisted six people and one company it said were tied to the Tijuana drug cartel and froze any assets they may have in the United States.

The action also prohibits U.S. banks and consumers from conducting business with them.

Among those named by the Treasury Department were Mexican citizen Edgardo Leyva Escandon and Tienda Marina Abaroa, a Mexican-based maritime equipment supplier.

"We are taking this action to disrupt Edgardo Leyva Escandon's ability to access weapons and financial conduits on behalf of the Arellano Felix Organization," Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said, referring to an alternate name for the Tijuana cartel.

According to Treasury, Escandon is the drug gang's primary ammunition and firearms supplier and an assassin.

Escandon is wanted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the State Department has offered a $2 million reward for information leading to his arrest, Treasury said.

Treasury also named five members of his financial network: Aristoteles Alejandro Abaroa Preciado, Victor Manuel Abaroa Diaz, Victor Hussein Abaroa Preciado, Elia Yolanda Preciado Gamez and Rosa Yolanda Nabila Abaroa Preciado.

A drug war between rival cartels in Mexico has killed more than 14,000 people since Mexican President Felipe Calderon took office in late 2006.

(Reporting by Nancy Waitz; Editing by Eric Beech)