OFAC expands sanctions on Cartel del Noreste-linked businesses in Mexico

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OFAC expands Mexico cartel sanctions

Highlights

OFAC added individuals including Gamaliel Garza Elias and 11 entities linked to Cartel del Noreste to the SDN List under narcotics-related and SDGT sanctions.
Newly sanctioned entities span sectors such as fuel, transportation, construction, and horse raising, with several based in Nuevo Laredo and others in Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, some formed as recently as March 2025.
Increased sanctions exposure raises compliance risk for banks, logistics providers, energy traders, and construction firms dealing with northeastern Mexico, especially where secondary sanctions under EO 13224 may apply.

New designations target cartel-linked commercial network

As reported by Office of Foreign Assets Control, the newly listed individuals include Gamaliel Garza Elias, Gamaliel Garza Garcia, Pablo Cesar Guajardo Alvarez and Francisco Javier Inzunza Partida under narcotics-related sanctions authorities, with several also carrying Specially Designated Global Terrorist, or SDGT, labels.

The entities added to the SDN List include Club La Molienda, Concretos y Productos Asfalticos del Norte, Construaceros del Fuerte, Construcciones y Edificaciones Garza Elias, Cuadra San Dibanh, Distribuidora de Gas Economico, Gas Energia Confiable, Inova NLD Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, Propane Trading Group, Tamex Logistics and Transportadora de Gas de Nuevo Laredo. OFAC links many of the businesses to Cartel del Noreste or to Gamaliel Garza Garcia, and identifies operations spanning horse raising, building construction, road works, fuel wholesale, transportation and food service activities.

Several of the listed companies are based in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, while others are tied to Anahuac, Nuevo Leon. The notice also shows some of the companies were established recently, including multiple fuel-related businesses formed in March 2025 and construction companies established in 2024, indicating a broad commercial footprint across sectors.

Compliance impact spreads across fuel, transport and construction

The additions increase compliance risk for banks, logistics providers, energy traders and construction counterparties dealing in northeastern Mexico, particularly where ownership or operational links may intersect with sanctioned persons or cartel-connected entities. Listings that carry secondary sanctions risk under Executive Order 13224, as amended, also raise the stakes for non-U.S. parties that continue business with the designated targets.

For corporate compliance teams, the action broadens the range of names, aliases and affiliated businesses that require screening across payments, shipping and procurement systems. The inclusion of a transport operator, fuel distributors and real estate or construction groups suggests U.S. authorities are focusing not only on alleged traffickers themselves, but also on the business infrastructure that can support illicit financing and operations.

Our earlier coverage of U.S.–Mexico energy trade highlighted how Mexico’s heavy reliance on U.S. pipeline natural gas and U.S.-refined fuels has turned energy into a key lever in broader bilateral negotiations. It also noted that Pemex’s debt burden and declining production could deepen Mexico’s dependence on U.S. supply over time, potentially extending even to crude imports to keep refineries running.

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