On May 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma (“de Anda”) and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda (“Gonzalez”), two high-ranking members of the Cartel del Noreste (“CDN”). According to OFAC, CDN is one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico that wields significant influence over U.S. border region near the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo point of entry. The cartel also reportedly engages in human trafficking, arms trafficking, oil and vehicle theft, and other crimes that threaten the lives of persons on both sides of the southern border of the United States. In 2022, the cartel allegedly attacked the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo using gunfire and grenades in retaliation for the arrest of CDN member who was wanted in Mexico for terrorism, homicide and extortion offenses.
On February 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of State identified CDN as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (“FTO”) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (“SDGT”). The group was also designated by OFAC in 2021 under Executive Order 14059, which targets those involved in the proliferation of illicit drug or their means of production. The CDN, which was previously known as Los Zetas, was also identified in 2011 as transnational criminal organization in the annex to EO 13581 and identified in 2009 as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.
According to OFAC, the designations were made possible by OFAC’s cooperation and partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations in San Antonio, and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives San Antonio (Operation Southbound Firearms Trafficking Task Force). De Anda and Gonzalez were designated pursuant to EO 14059 and EO 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups and their supporters. As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving a designated person. Entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
U.S. Department of Treasury Press Release