The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six targets tied to Cartel del Noreste (CDN), aiming to disrupt a money laundering and cash smuggling enterprise and CDN-linked activity around Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, near the Laredo, Texas port of entry. The action was taken under Executive Order 14059 and Executive Order 13224 (as amended), blocking the designated persons’ property and interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction and generally prohibiting U.S. persons from transacting with them. The designations cover three individuals and three gaming-related entities. OFAC designated Casino Centenario, described as being used by CDN as a stash house for fentanyl pills and cocaine and as a laundering vehicle through gaming operations, along with its operator Comercializadora y Arrendadora de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (CAMSA) and CAMSA-owned Diamante Casino (including its gambling website). Individuals designated were Eduardo Javier Islas Valdez (also known as “Crosty”), described as overseeing CDN human smuggling operations and cash stash houses in Nuevo Laredo; defense attorney Juan Pablo Penilla Rodriguez, accused of facilitating communications for incarcerated cartel figure Miguel Angel “Z-40” Trevino Morales; and Jesus Reymundo Ramos Vazquez, accused of advancing a CDN disinformation campaign while posing as a human rights activist. OFAC reiterated that entities owned 50 percent or more by blocked persons are also blocked, and warned of potential sanctions exposure for foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions for designated persons. OFAC stated the action followed a Homeland Security Task Force-led investigation involving the Drug Enforcement Administration and issued a general license authorizing transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to wind down operations with CAMSA, Casino Centenario, and Diamante Casino by U.S. persons.
U.S. Department of the Treasury 2026-04-14
U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions six Cartel del Noreste-linked targets including two Tamaulipas casinos and their operator
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three individuals and three gaming-related entities linked to Cartel del Noreste under Executive Orders 14059 and 13224, blocking their property and generally prohibiting U.S. persons from dealing with them. The action targets alleged money laundering, cash smuggling and cartel-linked activity around Nuevo Laredo, including use of Casino Centenario, its operator Comercializadora y Arrendadora de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., and Diamante Casino as stash houses and laundering vehicles. OFAC warned foreign financial institutions of potential secondary sanctions exposure and issued a general license for U.S. persons to wind down operations with the designated casinos and operator.