The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned three high-ranking members and one associate of the Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste (CDN), a violent drug trafficking organization with significant influence over the US-Mexico border.
CDN, also known as Los Zetas, is a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization that exerts control over key cities on both sides of the border, including Nuevo Laredo and Piedras Negras. The cartel’s role in fentanyl trafficking and human smuggling puts American lives at risk.
The individuals being designated today are involved in aiding CDN’s horrific crimes, including assassinations, beheadings, and money laundering. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated that the Treasury Department will continue to target terrorist drug cartels, saying “Treasury, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, is committed to a full-frontal assault on the cartels, targeting the leadership and revenue streams that enable their horrific crimes.”
The action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 14059 and E.O. 13224, which targets international proliferation of illicit drugs and terrorists. This is OFAC’s second action targeting CDN’s leadership and affiliates in the last three months.
The individuals being designated include Abdon Federico Rodriguez Garcia, Antonio Romero Sanchez, and Francisco Daniel Esqueda Nieto, who are all high-ranking members of CDN. They will face sanctions under E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, which prohibit transactions with blocked persons.
The sanctions have significant implications for the cartel’s ability to launder money and conduct its illicit activities. The US Department of Homeland Security and DEA have coordinated with OFAC on this action, demonstrating a strong commitment to combating CDN’s violent crimes.
Source: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0219