On May 21, the US government approved two leaders of Mexico-based Cártel Del Noreste (CDN), who are accused of being involved in the trafficking of drugs and weapons along the US border and violent crimes.
Authorized individuals are Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, also known as “El Rickey” as both Miguel Angel de Andesma of Alias de Anda and a high-ranking member of the CDN of Nuevo Laredo, northeastern Tamaulipas. Gonzalez was identified as the CDN’s deputy commander before being arrested by Mexican agents in February.
De Anda is authorized for overseeing payments to US facilitators and frontmen and organizing the delivery of firearms to Nuevo Laredo, which was later used in attacks against Mexican authorities. One of the weapons acquired under this weapons trafficking scheme was recovered after the cartel attacked Mexican troops during one of the patrols in March 2024.
Gonzalez led the armed wings of the Cartel del Noreste and was involved in weapon trafficking, drug trafficking, and attacks on Mexican police and the Army.
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On February 3, Mexican authorities arrested Gonzalez in August 2024 in connection with a CDN attack on Mexican forces, where two Mexican soldiers were killed and five others were injured.
The CDN, formerly known as Los Zetas, was designated as a foreign terrorist organisation in the federal register by the Trump administration in February.
Sanctions announced on May 21 include blocks of assets and property of both individuals in the United States. This must also be reported to the Foreign Assets Control Bureau.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said: “The CDN and its leaders have launched violent campaigns of threats, inducements and terrorism that threatened communities on both sides of the southern border.
“We will continue to block the cartel’s ability to get drugs, money and guns that allow them to do their violent activities.”
He said the Trump administration will continue to work towards “completely eliminating the cartel” and “to make America safe again.”
