Sanctioning Cártel del Noreste Senior Operatives

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Sanctioning Senior Operatives of Cártel del Noreste

Press Statement

Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson

April 14, 2026

Today, the Trump Administration is imposing sanctions on Cártel del Noreste (CDN)-linked casinos and senior operatives who enable the cartel’s money laundering, drug trafficking, and human smuggling activities along key border corridors, including Nuevo Laredo. These actions target the financial and logistical networks that sustain one of Mexico’s most violent criminal organizations, which the United States has designated as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

Cártel del Noreste’s violence and intimidation, including its March 2022 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, threaten U.S. personnel, undermine Mexican sovereignty, and destabilize communities on both sides of the border. By degrading CDN’s revenue streams and safe havens, the United States is acting to protect lawful cross-border commerce, safeguard American border communities, stop the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs killing Americans, and strengthen our shared efforts with Mexico to degrade and dismantle narco-terrorist organizations.

Today’s action continues to deliver on President Trump’s promise to the American people to protect our homeland, counter drug trafficking, dismantle human smuggling networks, and confront the corruption and violence that these foreign organizations fuel throughout our region. These steps underscore the Trump Administration’s commitment to use all tools available to disrupt and dismantle narco-terrorist groups that endanger the United States and our partners.

The action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets the international proliferation of illicit drugs and their means of production, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists and their supporters. This is the third action targeting CDN’s leadership and affiliates during the Trump Administration. For more information about today’s designations, please see Treasury’s press release.

Tags

Bureau of Counterterrorism Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Crime, Human Trafficking, and Illicit Activities Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions Drugs and Drug Trafficking Mexico Office of the Spokesperson Sanctions and Designations Terrorism and Terrorist Organizations Terrorist Designation