TITLE: United States Treasury Department Designates Cartel-Linked Casinos and Associates on U.S.-Mexico Border
BODY:
On April 14, 2026, the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Counter Terrorism General License 35, authorising the wind down of transactions involving entities blocked on that date. OFAC also issued Russia-related General License 128C, authorising certain transactions involving Lukoil Retail Service Stations located outside Russia, and Russia-related General License 130A, authorising transactions involving certain Lukoil entities in Bulgaria. Additionally, OFAC amended Russia-related Frequently Asked Question 1225 and updated the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.
OFAC added three individuals and three entities to its Specially Designated Nationals List, all linked to Cartel del Noreste. The designated individuals are Eduardo Javier Islas Valdez, Juan Pablo Penilla Rodriguez, and Jesus Reymundo Ramos Vazquez, all Mexican nationals. The designated entities include Casino Centenario (established 2023, based in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas), Comercializadora y Arrendadora de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (established May 28, 1997, based in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas), and Diamante Casino (established 2021, based in Tampico, Tamaulipas). All designations carry secondary sanctions risk under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886, and are linked to illicit drug activities under Executive Order 14059.
The designations target gambling and betting activities connected to cartel operations on the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. persons and entities are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with designated individuals and entities. The updated Specially Designated Nationals List is available on OFAC's website, and persons seeking authorisation to conduct transactions with designated parties may apply for specific licenses through OFAC's License Application Page.
REFERENCES:
Office of Foreign Assets Control. Counter Narcotics, Counter Terrorism Designations; Issuance of Related General License; Issuance of Amended Russia-related General Licenses and Frequently Asked Question. April 14, 2026. Available at: https://ofac.treasury.gov