Today’s action exposes Cartel del Noreste’s exploitation of the horse racing sector to launder illicit proceeds and finance cartel operations. This action marks Treasury’s most significant effort to date to disrupt Cartel del Noreste’s financial infrastructure. Treasury, in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to protecting the U.S. financial system from misuse by violent cartels.
Today, the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned four individuals and 11 entities connected to Cartel del Noreste (CDN), including individuals and businesses involved in quarter horse racing, construction, trucking, and the oil and gas sector, CDN’s evolution from its predecessor, Los Zetas—responsible for some of the deadliest mass‑casualty attacks in Mexican
history—underscores the severity of CDN’s continued threat to the United States and the region.