POLITICS: Treasury Sanctions High-Ranking Members of Foreign Terrorist Organization Cartel del Noreste – USSA News

Today, Treasury is taking action to target two high-ranking members of Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste (CDN) for engaging in drug and arms trafficking, as well as violence against U.S. and Mexican authorities. According to a press release, Treasury is sanctioning Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma (De Anda) is a high-ranking member of CDN.  De Anda oversees the procurement of guns and ammunition for CDN, including weapons that have been used in terrorist activity.

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two high-ranking members of the Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste (CDN), formerly known as Los Zetas.  CDN, one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), exerts significant influence over the border region, especially near the Laredo/Nuevo Laredo point of entry. These sanctions underscore our commitment to target CDN and other violent cartels involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and other heinous crimes that are endangering the American people.

“In working toward the total elimination of cartels to Make America Safe Again, the Trump Administration will hold these terrorists accountable for their criminal activities and abhorrent acts of violence,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “CDN and its leaders have carried out a violent campaign of intimidation, kidnapping, and terrorism, threatening communities on both sides of our southern border.  We will continue to cut off the cartels’

Treasury is also sanctioning Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda (Gonzalez), who was the second-in-command of CDN prior to his February 2025 arrest by Mexican authorities.  In this capacity, Gonzalez led an armed enforcement wing of CDN.

In 2022, the cartel carried out a deadly attack on the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, as a retaliatory act intended to intimidate the American diplomats over the arrest of a CDN member. During this attack, the consulate was assaulted with both gunfire and grenades. CDN has also been involved in terrorist activity to intimidate local communities in Mexico and American citizens, including engaging in acts of extortion, kidnapping, and murder.

Since the beginning of the Trump administration, including today’s actions, Treasury has taken 5 actions, sanctioning 16 individuals, and 9 entities related to cartels. During the same point under Biden, his administration took 0 actions against the cartels.

Statement on the Record from Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council

“President Trump’s actions against the cartels fulfills the promise that he made when he stated time and time again that he would not allow the cartels to operate with impunity on our borders or within the interior of the United States. These actions deal a significant blow and serves to send the message to all cartels, as well as to those who wish to do harm to Americans, that President Trump will not just talk about it, he will follow through. The amount of drugs, weapons and other contraband, to include the smuggling and trafficking of persons into and throughout the United States, created chaos and terror that the actions of the Trump administration is brining to an end. We fully and without hesitation support the actions taken by President Trump and his administration to take on the cartels.” – Paul Perez, President of the National Border Patrol Council