Latest news with #CartelDelNoreste
Reuters
5 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
US sanctions Mexican cartel figures, including popular rapper El Makabelico
Aug 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday announced sanctions on assets of four individuals whom it linked to Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, including the popular hip-hop artist El Makabelico. Treasury said the sanctions target three "high-ranking members" of Cartel del Noreste (Northeast Cartel), which splintered off from Los Zetas, as well as a "prominent associate" of the group, Ricardo Hernandez, a 34-year-old musician known as El Makabelico who has millions of followers on social media. Treasury said El Makabelico's concerts and events are used to launder money on behalf of the organization, "with 50 percent of his royalties from streaming platforms going directly to the group." A Spotify (SPOT.N), opens new tab spokesperson said the company was reviewing the decision and would comply with its legal obligations. Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab and Alphabet-owned (GOOGL.O), opens new tab YouTube did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DEL Records, which Hernandez lists as his label on social media, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Treasury identified the three other individuals as Abdon Rodriguez, Antonio Romero and Francisco Esqueda. Washington said the sanctioned individuals have played a critical role in the cartel's activities, including drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering. The Treasury said it had also sanctioned two "high-ranking members" of the cartel in May. The cartel was among those that President Donald Trump's administration in February designated as global terrorist organizations. "The Treasury Department will continue to be relentless in its effort to put America First by targeting terrorist drug cartels. These cartels poison Americans with fentanyl and conduct human smuggling operations along our southwest border," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The Cartel del Noreste is considered one of Mexico's most violent drug trafficking organizations and wields significant influence along the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly at Laredo, Texas, the Treasury said.
Al Jazeera
5 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
US sanctions Mexican cartel figures, including popular rapper El Makabelico
The US Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions on assets of four individuals that it linked to Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, including the popular hip-hop artist El Makabelico. The sanctions target three 'high-ranking members' of Cartel del Noreste (Northeast Cartel), which splintered off from Los Zetas, as well as an alleged 'prominent associate' of the group, Ricardo Hernandez, a 34-year-old musician known as El Makabelico who has millions of followers on social media. The Treasury said El Makabelico's concerts and events are used to launder money on behalf of the organisation, 'with 50 percent of his royalties from streaming platforms going directly to the group.' The Treasury identified the three other individuals as Abdon Rodriguez, Antonio Romero, and Francisco Esqueda. Washington said the sanctioned individuals have played a critical role in the cartel's activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and money laundering. The Treasury said it had previously sanctioned two 'high-ranking members' of the cartel in May. The cartel was among those that President Donald Trump's administration in February designated as 'global terrorist organisations'. 'The Treasury Department will continue to be relentless in its effort to put America First by targeting terrorist drug cartels. These cartels poison Americans with fentanyl and conduct human smuggling operations along our southwest border,' said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement by the Treasury Department. '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 Cartel del Noreste is considered one of Mexico's most violent drug trafficking organisations and wields significant influence along the US-Mexico border, particularly in Laredo, Texas, the Treasury said. DEL Records, which Hernandez lists as his label on social media, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
ICE: Mexican cartel member taken into custody in Lakewood
LAKEWOOD — A Mexican national, who is also an active Cartel del Noreste gang member, was taken into custody Monday in the township, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Jose Heladio Bonilla-Sanchez, who ICE described as a 'criminal alien,' had been deported from the United States three previous times. The agency said the individual is in ICE custody 'pending removal and federal prosecution for illegal reentry.' Details about the arrest were not immediately available. The Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, formerly known as Los Zetas, is one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Cartel del Noreste exerts significant influence over the U.S.-Mexican border, especially near the crossing between Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Lardeo, Texas, according to the Treasury Department. Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: ICE: Mexican cartel member taken into custody in Lakewood NJ
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.
