Counter Narcotics and Counter Terrorism Designations
Treasury Press Release: Treasury Targets Cartel del Noreste’s Horse Racing Enterprise and Expansive Criminal Network
State Press Release: Disrupting Cartel del Noreste’s Financial Network
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
- [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] Executive Order 14059
GARZA ELIAS, Gamaliel
- Address: Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
- DOB: 10 Jul 1997
- POB: Nuevo Laredo, 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.: GAEG970710HTSRLM04 (Mexico)
- Party Type: individual
- Linked to: CONSTRUCCIONES Y EDIFICACIONES GARZA ELIAS, S.A. DE C.V.
Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Garza Elias as the son of Gamaliel Garza Garcia, designated for his role in CEGESA, where he is involved in day-to-day operations. Treasury also says he has delivered cash to fund election campaigns for the political candidates CDN prefers in Mexico. OFAC designated him under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, CEGESA. The Linked To entry on his listing names CEGESA rather than CDN or his father, which matches the stated basis for his designation.
GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
- Address: Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
- DOB: 23 Oct 1974
- POB: Nuevo Leon, 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.: GAGG741023HNLRRM06 (Mexico)
- Party Type: individual
- Linked to: CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Garza Garcia as a Mexico-based businessman, horse racing enthusiast and associate of CDN. He races horses in both Mexico and the United States, including at some of the most prestigious tracks in California and New Mexico, and he and his horses frequently run at Club La Molienda. Treasury says CDN has used his company, CEGESA, to funnel money to the election campaigns of CDN’s preferred political candidates. CEGESA has also corruptly obtained government contracts, including from the municipality of Nuevo Laredo and the state of Tamaulipas, and subcontracted that work to CDN-affiliated individuals.
To integrate the scheme vertically, Garza Garcia created the materials supplier COPASA. CEGESA performed or subcontracted the work while COPASA supplied the materials, and as of early 2026 the two companies were among the only construction firms CDN authorized to work in Nuevo Laredo. Garza Garcia also controls the Cuadra San Dibanh racing barn and owns and controls six more construction and fuel companies based in Nuevo Laredo, all of them designated in this action.
OFAC designated Garza Garcia under E.O. 14059 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, CDN. He was designated under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored or provided financial, material or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, CDN.
GUAJARDO ALVAREZ, Pablo Cesar
- AKA: “El Takia”
- Address: Mexico
- DOB: 29 Dec 1998
- 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.: GUAP981229HTSJLB08 (Mexico)
- Party Type: individual
- Linked to: CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Guajardo as a current CDN plaza boss for Nuevo Laredo and a former leader of the cartel’s sicarios. Plaza bosses are in charge of all cartel activity in their area of responsibility. Guajardo was arrested in 2020 in connection with the January 4, 2017 assassination of Ricardo Martinez Chavez and four public servants but has since been released, and Treasury says he has been involved in arms trafficking on behalf of CDN. OFAC designated him under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, CDN. Treasury’s release calls him “Takia,” while the alias on the OFAC listing is “El Takia.”
OFAC Program: [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] Executive Order 14059
INZUNZA PARTIDA, Francisco Javier
- AKA:
- AMADOR INZUNZA, Francisco
- “Pancho Amador”
- Address: Mexico
- DOB: 21 Nov 1986
- POB: Coahuila, Mexico
- nationality: Mexico
- Gender: Male
- C.U.R.P.: IUPF861121HCLNRR09 (Mexico)
- Party Type: individual
Supplemental Information: Treasury identifies Inzunza as a dispatcher for Tamex who was involved in dispatching the two trailers that law enforcement seized with concealed narcotics. OFAC designated him, together with Tamex, under E.O. 14059 only, for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. His listing accordingly carries only the [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] tag, with no Secondary sanctions risk field and no Linked To entry.
The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:
- OFAC Programs:
- [SDGT] Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594
- [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] Executive Order 14059
CLUB LA MOLIENDA
- AKA:
- LA MOLIENDA RACE TRACK
- RESTAURANT BAR LA MOLIENDA
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Type: Operation of sports facilities
- alt. Organization Type: Restaurants and mobile food service activities
- Linked to: CARTEL DEL NORESTE
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Club La Molienda as a horse racetrack, restaurant and bar on the outskirts of Nuevo Laredo that CDN controls. It is the most prominent racetrack in Nuevo Laredo and brings in revenue for CDN through entrance fees charged to those racing their horses there and to spectators. CDN leaders and members buy horses, many of them from the United States, to race at the track. Treasury says Z-40 controls La Molienda, but various CDN leaders and associates ultimately oversee it while he is incarcerated in the United States.
Before the April 2026 bilateral U.S.-Mexico action suspended operations of Casino Centenario, La Molienda and the casino had a gambling partnership that let people bet on La Molienda races from the casino’s premises. On the day of OFAC’s April 2026 designation of Casino Centenario and related entities, Mexico’s financial intelligence unit, the UIF, took action and the Secretaria de Gobernacion suspended the activities of those CDN-linked entities.
Treasury places the designation within a longer history of CDN money laundering through American Quarter Horse racing. Between 2008 and 2012, the Trevino Morales brothers, Z-40 and Z-42, bought and sold racehorses with drug money and trained and raced them in the United States. Over a 30-month period, Zetas-affiliated front persons and shell companies spent $16 million in New Mexico, Oklahoma, California and Texas to support the operation and laundered upwards of $22 million for the cartel. In June 2012 the U.S. Government seized 455 horses at an Oklahoma horse farm, racing venues and training farms.
OFAC designated La Molienda under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, CDN.
CONCRETOS Y PRODUCTOS ASFALTICOS DEL NORTE, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 20 Mar 2024
- Organization Type: Construction of roads and railways
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2024024028 (Mexico)
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury says Garza Garcia created this Nuevo Laredo material supply company, which its release calls COPASA, to integrate the illicit construction contract scheme vertically. CEGESA performed or subcontracted the work while the company supplied the materials, and as of early 2026 the two were among the only construction companies CDN authorized to perform construction work in Nuevo Laredo. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
Two observations that are not Treasury statements. The OFAC listing carries no alias for the abbreviation COPASA, so that form appears only in the press release. The listing also classifies the company under construction of roads and railways, while Treasury describes it as a material supplier.
CONSTRUACEROS DEL FUERTE, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 13 Mar 2024
- Organization Type: Construction of buildings
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2024028434 (Mexico)
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Construaceros del Fuerte as a Nuevo Laredo construction company, one of six companies in the construction and fuel sectors that Garza Garcia owns and controls. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
CONSTRUCCIONES Y EDIFICACIONES GARZA ELIAS, S.A. DE C.V.
- AKA:
- CEGESA
- CEGESA S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 09 Mar 2016
- Organization Type: Construction of buildings
- Folio Mercantil No.: 5576 (Mexico)
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury says CDN has used CEGESA, Garza Garcia’s company, to funnel money to the election campaigns of its preferred political candidates. CEGESA has also corruptly obtained government contracts and subcontracted that work to CDN-affiliated individuals, and Treasury calls it a major recipient of government contracts in the north of Mexico, including from the municipality of Nuevo Laredo and the state of Tamaulipas. Garza Garcia’s son, Garza Elias, is involved in its day-to-day operations. OFAC designated CEGESA under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
CUADRA SAN DIBANH
- Address: Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Type: Raising of horses and other equines
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Cuadra San Dibanh as a Quarter Horse racing barn based in Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, that Garza Garcia controls. The barn frequently races at La Molienda and at other major racetracks throughout Mexico. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
DISTRIBUIDORA DE GAS ECONOMICO, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 11 Mar 2025
- Organization Type: Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2025031155 (Mexico)
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Distribuidora de Gas Economico as a Nuevo Laredo fuel and gas company that Garza Garcia owns and controls. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
GAS ENERGIA CONFIABLE, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 11 Mar 2025
- Organization Type: Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2025036516 (Mexico)
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Gas Energia Confiable as a Nuevo Laredo fuel and gas company that Garza Garcia owns and controls. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
INOVA NLD DESARROLLOS INMOBILARIOS, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 05 Sep 2024
- Organization Type: Construction of buildings
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2024082509 (Mexico)
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Inova NLD as a Nuevo Laredo construction company that Garza Garcia owns and controls. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia. One observation that is not a Treasury statement: the listing spells the second word of the name INMOBILARIOS, while Treasury’s release spells it Inmobiliarios, so anyone checking the listing against the press materials will see the two forms differ.
PROPANE TRADING GROUP, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 11 Mar 2025
- Organization Type: Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2025031199 (Mexico)
- Linked to: GARZA GARCIA, Gamaliel
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Propane Trading Group as a Nuevo Laredo fuel and gas company that Garza Garcia owns and controls. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
TRANSPORTADORA DE GAS DE NUEVO LAREDO, S.A. DE C.V.
- Address: Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
- Organization Established Date: 11 Mar 2025
- Organization Type: Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products
- Folio Mercantil No.: N-2025031250 (Mexico)
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Transportadora de Gas de Nuevo Laredo as a Nuevo Laredo fuel and gas transportation company that Garza Garcia owns and controls. OFAC designated it under E.O. 14059 and under E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia. One observation that is not a Treasury statement: unlike the other companies Treasury attributes to Garza Garcia, this OFAC listing carries no Linked To entry, so no link to him is recorded on the listing itself.
OFAC Program: [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059] Executive Order 14059
TAMEX LOGISTICS
- AKA: TAMEX LEASING
- Address: Villa de Hidalgo 239, Granjas Guzman, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas 88293, Mexico
- Organization Type: Transportation and storage
- Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC): TLOJ
- Codigo Alfanumerico Armonizado del Transportista (CAAT): 7547 (Mexico)
Supplemental Information: Treasury describes Tamex as a Nuevo Laredo trucking company involved in smuggling narcotics into the United States. Its truckyard in Nuevo Laredo originated at least two cocaine shipments bound for the United States, which law enforcement seized. The cocaine, 52 kilograms in total, was stored in hidden compartments in the trailers’ brake drums. Francisco Javier Inzunza Partida, a Tamex dispatcher, was involved in dispatching the two seized trailers. OFAC designated Tamex and Inzunza under E.O. 14059 only, for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
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