US Blacklists Members of Cartel del Noreste Amid Drug Crackdown

On August 7, the US government imposed sanctions on three prominent figures from the Cartel del Noreste (CDN), as part of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking alongside immigration enforcement.

The Treasury announced on Wednesday the targeting of Abdon Federico Rodriguez Garcia, the CDN’s assistant commander, Antonio Romero Sanchez, a senior member, and Francisco Daniel Esqueda Nieto, who coordinates tactical operations in Nuevo Laredo. Additionally, they listed Ricardo Hernandez Medrano, a Mexican rapper known as El Macabellico, for alleged ties to the cartel.

According to the Treasury Department, these individuals play “important” roles in CDN’s violent actions and drug trafficking efforts.

The first three are accused of direct involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Meanwhile, Medrano faces claims that his concerts have been exploited for money laundering purposes.

He once had millions of followers on YouTube, although his account seems to have been removed. UPI reached out to YouTube for clarification on this matter.

The Treasury’s statement highlighted CDN’s reliance on various revenue streams and money laundering strategies, essential for sustaining their criminal operations that extend beyond drug trafficking to include human smuggling and other illicit activities.

Originally known as Los Zetas, CDN operates in several Mexican states including Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo León, engaging in drug and human trafficking as well as money laundering and theft.

Earlier this year, the US State Department designated CDN and seven other cartels as foreign terrorist organizations under President Donald Trump’s directive.

Trump has frequently used charged language about these groups in his campaign to tighten border security against both criminal organizations and irregular migration.

In May, two senior CDN members were also sanctioned in connection with arms procurement.

“These cartels poison Americans with fentanyl and contribute to human smuggling at the southwest border,” Treasury official Scott Bescent stated on Wednesday.

“The Treasury is actively collaborating with law enforcement to launch a comprehensive offensive against the cartels, focusing on their leadership and the financial pipelines that support their malicious activities.”