Latest news with #ElMakabelico
Reuters
6 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.
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
US sanctions Mexico cartel members, including rapper El Makabelico
Agencies Washington 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.
New York Post
7 days ago
- New York Post
US sanctions ‘narco-rapper' El Makabelico, who laundered streaming proceeds to bloodthirsty Mexican drug lords
WASHINGTON — The US Treasury sanctioned senior members of a vicious Mexican drug cartel Wednesday for trafficking fentanyl into the US — as well as a notorious rapper thought to be providing up to half of his royalties to the gangsters. The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced the crippling penalties for Cartel del Noreste — among the most violent drug runners in Mexico, a dangerous presence on both sides of the border near Laredo, Texas, and a US-designated foreign terror organization. Rapper Ricardo Hernandez Medrano — who goes by the stage names 'El Makabelico' and 'Comando Exclusivo,' was hit with sanctions as an associate of the cartel after having forked over 50% of his streaming cash, believed to be thousands of dollars, to fund trafficking, human smuggling and extortion. Medrano boasts nearly 2.8 million subscribers on YouTube, along with 1.3 million followers on TikTok and one million followers on Instagram. 4 Rapper Ricardo Hernandez Medrano — who goes by the stage names El Makabelico and Comando Exclusivo, was hit with sanctions as an associate of the cartel after having forked over 50% of his streaming cash to their networks. U.S. Department of the Treasury Three other top Cartel del Noreste members — Abdon Federico Rodriguez Garcia, Antonio Romero Sanchez and Francisco Daniel Esqueda Nieto — were also sanctioned. Rodriguez, also known by the street name 'Cucho,' engaged in 'drug trafficking, money laundering, fuel theft, and extortion,' according to the Treasury. Rodriguez is a longstanding member of the group, having been arrested in 2013. Romero, also known as 'Romeo,' is described as a violent fugitive connected to beheadings and executions in addition to the assassination attempt of a government official in the state of Nuevo Laredo. 4 Three other top Cartel del Noreste members — Abdon Federico Rodriguez Garcia, Antonio Romero Sanchez and Francisco Daniel Esqueda Nieto — were also sanctioned. Drug Enforcement Administration 4 The cash fueled the vicious Mexican cartel in carrying out cold-blooded killings. El Makabelico / Facebook Esqueda, known as 'Franky Esqueda,' assumed control of the cartel in that area, assaulting a Mexican army official and leading an attack on a government helicopter earlier this year during the hunt for cartel kingpin Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, who was arrested in February. 'Under President Trump, the Treasury Department will continue to be relentless in its effort to put America First by targeting terrorist drug cartels,' said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement. 'These cartels poison Americans with fentanyl and conduct human smuggling operations along our southwest border.' 4 'Under President Trump, the Treasury Department will continue to be relentless in its effort to put America First by targeting terrorist drug cartels,' said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement. via REUTERS '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,' he added. The sanctions will block the cartel leaders and associates from any property or interests in the US or under the control of American persons, as well as entities in which they have a majority stake. Bessent has targeted many criminal networks for flooding the US with fentanyl since taking office, often remarking that the issue is 'personal' for him, since he's known families who lost children to overdoses due to the crisis.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump administration sanctions a Mexican rapper over allegations of cartel ties
MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Trump administration said Wednesday it was sanctioning Mexican musician Ricardo Hernández, known as 'El Makabelico,' over allegations that the artist was laundering money for a drug cartel. The move comes after the administration has stripped the visas of some of Mexico's most famous musicians, targeting those whose genres often explore themes related to cartels. The U.S. Treasury Department accused Hernández, a musician they refer to as a 'narco-rapper,' of being associated with the Cartel del Noreste, CDN, an evolution of the former Zetas Cartel. According to the department, he laundered money for the criminal group through concerts and events. The CDN is one of several Latin American organized crime groups that the Trump administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. The administration alleges that 50% of Hernández's royalties on streaming platforms go directly to the cartel, leading to his sanctioning alongside leaders of the cartel on allegations that he acted for or on behalf of the criminal group. Hernández did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 'CDN depends on these alternative revenue streams and money laundering methods to boost their criminal enterprise, diversifying their income beyond criminal activity like drug trafficking, human smuggling, and extortion," wrote the Treasury Department in a news release. The sanctions would block the rapper's properties in the U.S. and freeze financial transactions with any businesses owned by those sanctioned, and threaten secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that do business with them. Hernández, whose stage name is a play on words relating to cartels, performs his songs wearing a black ski mask and often sings songs related to the criminal groups, making reference to street life, cartel lifestyles and the realities faced in cartel-dominated areas. In recent years, young artists like Peso Pluma have brought Mexican genres into the international spotlight by mixing traditional rhythms with trap and other styles, competing with global stars includingTaylor Swift and Bad Bunny on streaming platforms. The genres — primarily 'narco-corridos' — have also become the center of controversy because a number of artists sing about cartels and 'narco culture' associated with them. Some songs romanticize criminals, while others speak to the harsh realities of youth living in cartel-controlled areas, similar to rap music in the U.S. The music has long fueled a debate about the fine line between artistic expression and censorship, as a number of Mexican states have previously banned performances of certain genres. In recent months, the Trump administration has revoked the visas of a slew of different artists related to the genre. In May, the famous northern Mexican band Grupo Firme, which has taken steps to distance themselves from the cartel-centric themes of the genre, announced they would have to cancel an upcoming show in California because their visas were suspended. In April, the administration said it was revoking the visas of the band Alegres de Barranco after they flashed the face of a cartel boss behind them at a concert, prompting a controversy and even criminal investigations in Mexico. ____ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Al Jazeera
7 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.
