Latest news with #CartelDelNoreste
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. blacklists two alleged high-ranking Cartel del Noreste members
May 22 (UPI) -- The United States has sanctioned two high-ranking members of the notorious Cartel del Noreste gang, as the Trump administration cracks down on transnational criminal organizations. The Treasury on Wednesday blacklisted Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma, 40, and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, 27. De Anda is accused of overseeing the procurement of guns and ammunition for the gang. Gonzalez, an alleged second-in-command of CDN, is currently in Mexican custody. He was arrested in February. "In working toward the total elimination of cartels to Make America Safe Again, the Trump administration will hold these terrorists accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. Formerly known as Los Zetas, CDN is a notorious criminal organization based in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Nuevo Leon. It has been connected to human, drug and arms trafficking as well as money laundering and vehicle and oil theft. In February, the State Department designated CDN and seven other cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and specifically designated global terrorists at the direction of President Donald Trump, who, on his first day in office, signed an executive order targeting the criminal organizations. Trump campaigned on securing the border from both criminal cartels and irregular migration. "The United States remains committed to protecting our nation by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and degrading the ability of cartels to arm themselves, a critical step toward the total elimination of these organizations," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. "Today's action further demonstrates the Trump administration's unwavering commitment to protecting our local communities and the safety of the American people."
Fox News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Violent Mexican drug gang's high ranking members sanctioned by Trump
The Trump administration sanctioned two high-ranking members of the Cartel del Noreste Wednesday — one of the most violent drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, Fox News Digital has learned. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the two leaders of the organizations, formerly known as Los Zetas. Officials said the gang exerts "significant influence over the border region," especially near the Laredo, Texas point of entry. The first individual sanctioned was Miguel Angel de Anda Ledzema, a high-ranking member of Cartel del Noreste who oversees the procurement of guns and ammunition for the group. According to the Treasury Department, he has overseen payments to facilitators and straw purchasers in the United States and organized the delivery of firearms to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico — straw purchasers who made false representations to secure firearms from American businesses, who officials say "fell victim to the cartel's lies." The Treasury Department said that one of the weapons purchased in this arms trafficking conspiracy was recovered after Cartel del Noreste attacked Mexico's army during a patrol in March 2024. The second individual sanctioned was Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, who was known as the second-in-command of Cartel del Noreste before his February arrest by Mexican authorities. The Treasury Department said he led an armed enforcement wing of the organization. He had been arrested in connection with attacks on the Mexican military and Mexican police. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a rifle, a handgun, 300 grams of methamphetamine and a package of 1,500 fentanyl pills. Officials said the new sanctions underscore the Trump administration's commitment to targeting Cartel del Noreste and other violent cartels involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking and other heinous crimes endangering the American people. "In working toward the total elimination of cartels to Make America Safe Again, the Trump Administration will hold these terrorists accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday. Cartel del Noreste "and its leaders have carried out a violent campaign of intimidation, kidnapping, and terrorism, threatening communities on both sides of our southern border." Bessent added, "We will continue to cut off the cartels' ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities." The new sanctions were imposed in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Officials said the action was also closely coordinated with Mexico's Financial Intelligence Unit. President of the National Border Patrol Council Paul Perez told Fox News Digital that President Donald Trump's actions against cartels "fulfills the promise that he made when he stated time and time again that he would not allow the cartels to operate with impunity on our borders or within the interior of the United States." "These actions deal a significant blow and serves to send the message to all cartels, as well as to those who wish to do harm to Americans, that President Trump will not just talk about it, he will follow through," Perez said. "The amount of drugs, weapons and other contraband, to include the smuggling and trafficking of persons into and throughout the United States, created chaos and terror that the actions of the Trump administration is bringing to an end." "We fully and without hesitation support the actions taken by President Trump and his administration to take on the cartels," Perez added. The actions come after Trump directed cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. In April, the Justice Department hit a high-ranking member of Tren de Aragua on terrorism and international drug distribution charges — the first time the U.S. government has used terrorism charges to prosecute a member of the violent gang.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
US sanctions two members of a Mexican drug trafficking group known as the Northeast Cartel
The United States imposed sanctions Wednesday on two members of the Mexican drug trafficking organization Cartel del Noreste, the Northeast Cartel, which was formerly known as Los Zetas. The Treasury Department is targeting Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma, who allegedly oversees the procurement of guns and ammunition for the cartel, and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, who was the second-in-command of the group before his February 2025 arrest by Mexican officials. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump 's administration designated Cartel del Noreste as a 'foreign terrorist organization,' along with seven other groups. The Republican president has made securing the U.S.-Mexico border among his top priorities. He has pledged to carry out mass deportations, send active-duty troops to the border and reach deals with some countries to take in more migrants. The Northeast Cartel is a remnant of the Zetas. Zetas were comprised of former Mexican military officers and began as an armed militaristic wing of the Gulf Cartel that eventually split and became its own trafficking organization. The Northeast cartel has retained a relatively small portion of what the Zetas once ruled. Its base is Nuevo Laredo, the busiest commercial port on the U.S.-Mexico border. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the administration will hold the cartels "accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence.' 'We will continue to cut off the cartels' ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities,' Bessent said. In March a group of Mexican nationals and former leaders of the Los Zetas were arraigned in Washington on charges that included engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved several murder conspiracies, conspiring to manufacture and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana destined for the U.S.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
US sanctions two members of a Mexican drug trafficking group known as the Northeast Cartel
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States imposed sanctions Wednesday on two members of the Mexican drug trafficking organization Cartel del Noreste, the Northeast Cartel, which was formerly known as Los Zetas. The Treasury Department is targeting Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma, who allegedly oversees the procurement of guns and ammunition for the cartel, and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, who was the second-in-command of the group before his February 2025 arrest by Mexican officials. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump's administration designated Cartel del Noreste as a 'foreign terrorist organization,' along with seven other groups. The Republican president has made securing the U.S.-Mexico border among his top priorities. He has pledged to carry out mass deportations, send active-duty troops to the border and reach deals with some countries to take in more migrants. The Northeast Cartel is a remnant of the Zetas. Zetas were comprised of former Mexican military officers and began as an armed militaristic wing of the Gulf Cartel that eventually split and became its own trafficking organization. The Northeast cartel has retained a relatively small portion of what the Zetas once ruled. Its base is Nuevo Laredo, the busiest commercial port on the U.S.-Mexico border. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that the administration will hold the cartels 'accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence.' 'We will continue to cut off the cartels' ability to obtain the drugs, money, and guns that enable their violent activities,' Bessent said. In March a group of Mexican nationals and former leaders of the Los Zetas were arraigned in Washington on charges that included engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved several murder conspiracies, conspiring to manufacture and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana destined for the U.S.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Illegal immigrant in Texas who purchased thousands of rounds for Mexican drug cartel gets 5 years in prison
An illegal immigrant living in a Texas border city was hired to purchase thousands of rounds of ammunition for the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN) in Mexico, the Justice Department said Tuesday. Charbel Garza Macias pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024, to illegally possessing ammunition after he was found with 4,8000 rounds during a traffic stop. He was sentenced in federal court to more than five years in prison. He is expected to be deported upon serving his time, authorities said. Feds Likely Eyeing 'Cover-ups' To Bust Mexican Cartels Along Border: Former Dea Agent "This defendant's goal was to get this ammunition to Mexico and, if he had succeeded, would have contributed to the cartels' ongoing campaign of brutality," said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. "Those who work to arm, supply, fund or otherwise aid these organizations take notice; you are going to be found and prosecuted." On July 16, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations, along with the Laredo Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, set up surveillance in a Laredo parking lot, which sits across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Read On The Fox News App Mexican Immigration Activist Who Hid In Colorado Church For Years To Avoid Deportation Arrested By Ice Macias attempted to elude law enforcement as they followed him after departing the parking lot, federal prosecutors said. During a traffic stop, authorities found 4,800 rounds of .223/5.56 caliber ammunition in the vehicle. At the time, Macias admitted that he was hired by the CDN to buy 20,000 rounds to be smuggled into Mexico. Authorities noted that he didn't have a license to export ammunition or firearms and knew it was illegal to smuggle ammunition into Mexico. In exchange for smuggling the ammunition, Macias expected to be paid $600 per transaction, the Laredo Morning Times reported, citing a federal article source: Illegal immigrant in Texas who purchased thousands of rounds for Mexican drug cartel gets 5 years in prison
