Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against three senior members and one associate of the Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste (CDN), a violent narco-terrorist group that has long operated along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The designations come as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing campaign to disrupt drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent criminal networks that threaten both American and Mexican communities. CDN, which evolved from the infamous Los Zetas cartel, is known for extreme violence and is involved in a wide range of criminal activity, including fentanyl trafficking, assassinations, and extortion.
“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. “These cartels poison Americans with fentanyl and conduct human smuggling operations along our southwest border.”
The coordinated action—carried out in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)—targets the cartel’s leadership under Executive Orders 14059 and 13224, which authorize sanctions against narcotics traffickers and terrorist organizations.
Sanctioned Leaders
Among those sanctioned are:
Abdon Federico Rodriguez Garcia (“Cucho”), the second-in-command of CDN. A longtime member, Rodriguez is tied to drug trafficking, money laundering, fuel theft, and ordering executions. He was previously arrested alongside CDN kingpin Miguel Trevino Morales (“Z-40”).
Antonio Romero Sanchez (“Romeo”), a high-ranking CDN leader and former police officer. Romero is accused of orchestrating numerous violent acts, including executions, beheadings, and an attempted assassination of a government official in 2025.
Francisco Daniel Esqueda Nieto (“Franky de la Joya”), who took over CDN’s tactical operations after the arrest of another cartel leader earlier this year. He is linked to attacks against Mexican military forces.
These individuals were sanctioned for acting on behalf of CDN and contributing to its reign of violence and destabilization.
Also named in the sanctions is Ricardo Hernandez Medrano, a well-known “narco-rapper” who performs under the stage names El Makabelico and Comando Exclusivo. Hernandez reportedly uses his music career to launder money for CDN, with half of his music royalties going directly to the organization.
Concerts and events associated with Hernandez have served as additional income streams for the cartel, helping finance its operations beyond traditional trafficking routes.
Cross-Border Criminal Enterprise
CDN has long exerted control over border cities like Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Piedras Negras, Coahuila. The cartel operates drug distribution hubs across Texas and maintains affiliates throughout the Midwest and southern U.S.
In June 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 72 undocumented immigrants and seized weapons and narcotics in a raid on a CDN-run nightclub in South Carolina. Authorities say the club functioned as a front for human trafficking and drug smuggling.
As a result of today’s action, all assets of the designated individuals under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting transactions with them, and financial institutions could face secondary sanctions for facilitating significant transactions.
