U.S. Sanctions Target Mexican Cartel Members

The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that it has imposed sanctions on two senior members of the Cartel del Noese (CDN), based in Mexico. This decision comes due to their involvement in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and arms trafficking—crimes that endanger Americans.

The sanctioned individuals are Miguel Angel de Andezma, who is responsible for securing firearms and ammunition for the cartel, and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, a former commander and executive leader within the CDN. Gonzalez, in particular, has been tied to violent attacks on Mexican law enforcement and the military.

De Anda’s firearms have reportedly been used in significant attacks, including a 2024 incident targeting the Mexican army. Meanwhile, Gonzalez was apprehended in February by Mexican law enforcement regarding his suspected involvement in a separate 2024 assault on the army, which led to two fatalities and injuries to five soldiers.

As a result of the sanctions, all property belonging to De Anda and Gonzalez in the U.S. or other areas under U.S. jurisdiction has been blocked, and violating these sanctions could lead to civil or criminal consequences.

CDN has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in the United States, with its operations centered in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. The cartel was responsible for an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, a response to the arrest of its members sought for serious crimes related to terrorism, murder, and torture. This attack forced the consulate’s closure for nearly nine months, according to reports from the Mexican government.

The sanctions were implemented collaboratively by various U.S. agencies, including the Department of Treasury, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.