Counter Narcotics, Counter Terrorism Designations; Issuance of Related General License; Issuance of Amended Russia-related General Licenses and Frequently Asked Question
Treasury Press Release: Treasury Sanctions Cartel-Linked Casinos and Key Associates on U.S.-Mexico Border
Additions:
The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
- OFAC Programs:
- SDGT Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594; Executive Order 13224, as amended
- ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059 Executive Order 14059, “Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade”
ISLAS VALDEZ, Eduardo Javier
- AKA: “Crosty”
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- DOB: 25 Feb 1985
- POB: Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Nationality: Mexico
- Gender: Male
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- C.U.R.P.: IAVE850225HTSSLD02 (Mexico)
- Party Type: Individual
- Linked To: CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Supplemental Information: According to the Treasury press release, Eduardo Javier Islas Valdez (“Crosty”) is in charge of CDN human smuggling operations in Nuevo Laredo. He oversees human smugglers known as pateros and serves as a gatekeeper granting permission to move migrants across the Rio Grande into Texas. Islas also controls cash stash houses in Nuevo Laredo to ensure continuity of cross-border activities that sustain CDN’s criminal enterprise. He is described as a close associate of CDN second-in-command Abdon Federico Rodriguez Garcia, who OFAC designated in August 2025. He was designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended.
PENILLA RODRIGUEZ, Juan Pablo
- Address: Mexico
- DOB: 18 Jan 1980
- POB: Mexico City, Mexico
- Nationality: Mexico
- Gender: Male
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- C.U.R.P.: PERJ800118HDFNDN03 (Mexico)
- Party Type: Individual
- Linked To: CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Supplemental Information: According to the Treasury press release, Juan Pablo Penilla Rodriguez is a defense attorney who provides illegal services to CDN members beyond the scope of a normal attorney-client relationship. While representing Miguel Angel “Z-40” Trevino Morales, Penilla has served as an intermediary between the incarcerated Miguel Trevino and the current CDN leadership and other criminal associates, enabling Trevino to maintain his leadership role in the cartel despite being in prison. He was designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended.
RAMOS VAZQUEZ, Jesus Reymundo
- AKA: RAMOS, Raymundo
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- DOB: 15 Mar 1971
- POB: Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Nationality: Mexico
- Gender: Male
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- C.U.R.P.: RAVJ710315HTSMZS09 (Mexico)
- Party Type: Individual
- Linked To: CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Supplemental Information: According to the Treasury press release, Jesus Reymundo Ramos Vazquez, better known as Raymundo Ramos, leads CDN’s disinformation campaign against Mexican authorities while posing as a “human rights” activist. Under this guise, he files false complaints against the Mexican military, pays individuals to attend protests, and works to protect the reputations of fallen or arrested CDN members. On CDN’s payroll, he has supported the cartel in this capacity for over a decade. He was designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended.
The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
- OFAC Programs:
- SDGT Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594; Executive Order 13224, as amended
- ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059 Executive Order 14059, “Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade”
CASINO CENTENARIO
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Website: casinocentenarionld.com
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 2023
- Organization Type: Gambling and betting activities
- Linked To: CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Supplemental Information: According to the Treasury press release, Casino Centenario is a Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas-based casino operated by Comercializadora y Arrendadora de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (CAMSA). CDN uses Casino Centenario as a stash house for fentanyl pills and cocaine, as a vehicle to launder illicit proceeds through its gaming operations, and as a venue for CDN members to gather. The press release further states that CDN uses backrooms of Casino Centenario to torture and intimidate alleged enemies of the cartel. The casino is located approximately two miles from the U.S. border. It was designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended. OFAC has issued Counter Terrorism General License 35 to authorize wind-down transactions involving Casino Centenario by U.S. persons.
COMERCIALIZADORA Y ARRENDADORA DE MEXICO, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 28 May 1997
- Organization Type: Gambling and betting activities
- RFC: CAM970528IYA (Mexico)
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2020067321 (Mexico)
- Linked To: CASINO CENTENARIO
Supplemental Information: According to the Treasury press release, Comercializadora y Arrendadora de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (CAMSA) operates both Casino Centenario and Diamante Casino. CAMSA was designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, or technological support for Casino Centenario, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. OFAC has issued Counter Terrorism General License 35 to authorize wind-down transactions involving CAMSA by U.S. persons.
DIAMANTE CASINO
- Address: Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Website: diamantecasino.com.mx
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 2021
- Organization Type: Gambling and betting activities
- Linked To: COMERCIALIZADORA Y ARRENDADORA DE MEXICO, S.A. DE C.V.
Supplemental Information: According to the Treasury press release, Diamante Casino is operated by CAMSA and has a location in Tampico, Tamaulipas as well as an online gambling website (diamantecasino.com.mx). It was designated pursuant to E.O. 14059 and E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or acting on behalf of CAMSA. OFAC has issued Counter Terrorism General License 35 to authorize wind-down transactions involving Diamante Casino by U.S. persons.
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