FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Justice Department logo or seal showing Justice Department headquarters, known as "Main Justice," is seen behind the podium in the Department's headquarters briefing room before a news conference with the Attorney General in Washington, January 24, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday charged five high-ranking members of the Carteles Unidos drug gang, known in English as United Cartels, while the Treasury Department announced it was imposing sanctions on the group.

United Cartels, which is less widely known than some of its rivals, controls large areas of Michoacan, Mexico. The Justice Department called it one of the "most prolific" methamphetamine producers, and said that the proceeds from its illicit drug sales are used to acquire weapons, hire mercenaries, and bribe local officials.

The group's members who are facing charges include its leader Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, also known as El Abuelo, along with Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, Edgar Orozco Cabadas, and Nicolas Sierra Santana.

They are charged with being a part of long-running conspiracies to manufacture and distribute drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, to be unlawfully imported into the United States.

The State Department said it is offering collectively up to $26 million in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the five men.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday said it was imposing sanctions against United Cartels as well as another cartel known as Los Viagras and against seven affiliated individuals.

Earlier this week, Mexico sent more than two dozen suspected cartel members to the United States who were wanted for ties to drug-trafficking groups. The transfer of the 26 prisoners was the second of its kind this year. In February, Mexico also sent another 29 alleged cartel leaders.

Federal prosecutors in New York City separately announced criminal charges against a number of cartel leaders, including Servando Gomez-Martinez of the cartel La Familia Michoacana and three leaders of the Sinaloa cartel.

In February, President Donald Trump designated United Cartels, along with seven other different criminal gangs and cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco Nueva Generacion, Cartel del Noreste, Nueva Familia Michoacana and Cartel del Golfo, as foreign terrorist organizations.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Alistair Bell)