TITLE: United States Treasury Sanctions Cartel-Linked Casinos and Associates on U.S.-Mexico Border
BODY:
On April 14, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated six targets involved in money laundering and cash smuggling operations connected to Cartel del Noreste (CDN), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and one of Mexico's most violent drug trafficking organizations. CDN exerts significant influence along the U.S.-Mexico border near Laredo, Texas, the busiest land port of entry on the southern border.
OFAC designated two CDN-affiliated casinos: Casino Centenario, located in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (approximately two miles from the U.S. border), and Diamante Casino, which operates locations in Tampico, Tamaulipas and maintains a gambling website. Both casinos are utilised by CDN to launder illicit proceeds through gaming operations, store narcotics, and facilitate cartel activities. OFAC also designated Comercializadora y Arrendadora de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (CAMSA), the entity operating Casino Centenario and Diamante Casino.
Additionally, OFAC designated three individuals: Eduardo Javier Islas Valdez, who oversees CDN human smuggling operations in Nuevo Laredo; Juan Pablo Penilla Rodriguez, a defence attorney providing illegal services to CDN members; and Jesus Reymundo Ramos Vazquez, a CDN associate leading disinformation campaigns against Mexican authorities while posing as a human rights activist.
The designations were made pursuant to Executive Order 14059, targeting international proliferation of illicit drugs, and Executive Order 13224, as amended, targeting terrorists and their supporters. This represents OFAC's third action against CDN leadership and affiliates during the Trump Administration, following designations on May 21, 2025 and August 6, 2025.
All property and interests in property of designated persons in the United States or controlled by U.S. persons are blocked. U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in transactions involving designated persons unless authorised by OFAC licence. OFAC issued a general licence supporting wind-down operations with the designated casinos by U.S. persons.