Following the operational and financial weakening of the Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Sinaloa cartels, United States authorities have intensified their focus on the Cártel del Noreste. This criminal organization, described as a brutal splinter group of Los Zetas, is currently led by the Treviño Morales family and maintains significant influence along the border with Texas.
Since being designated a terrorist organization by President Donald Trump in February 2025, the group has faced a coordinated offensive from U.S. Security and financial agencies. This pressure targets the operational structure and leadership of the cartel, including brothers Miguel Ángel (Z-40) and Óscar Omar Treviño Morales (Z-42), who were extradited following their arrests by Mexican security forces.
Financial and Tactical Pressure
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has placed over a dozen high-ranking members and associates on its blacklist. Notable figures sanctioned include Abdón Federico Rodríguez García, known as “Cucho,” who served as second-in-command, and Antonio Romero Sánchez, a regional leader in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, and Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. Other key individuals targeted include tactical operations head Francisco Daniel Esqueda Nieto (“Franky Esqueda”), Miguel Ángel de Anda Ledezma, and Ricardo González Sauceda.
In April 2026, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two casinos in Nuevo Laredo and Tampico, citing their use for money laundering. Additional measures included blocking the assets of Eduardo Javier Islas Valdez (“Crosty”), who managed human trafficking, as well as those of Juan Pablo Penilla Rodríguez and activist Raymundo Ramos Vázquez. Domestically, Mexican authorities recently apprehended José Antonio Cortés Huerta in Nuevo León, linking him to fuel smuggling and an illicit shipment seized in the port of Tampico.
The Cártel del Noreste emerged in 2012 following the fragmentation of Los Zetas, a group originally formed in the late 1990s by military deserters from the Mexican Army’s GAFE unit to serve as an elite security detail for the Cártel del Golfo.
The shift in U.S. Strategy toward designating criminal groups as terrorist organizations marks a significant escalation in policy. By targeting the financial infrastructure—such as the recent sanctions on casinos—agencies are attempting to disrupt the cartel’s ability to sustain its territorial dominance. The reliance on extreme violence suggests that as these groups lose financial autonomy, the competition for control over migration and smuggling routes may become increasingly volatile.
Operational Context and Future Outlook
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cártel del Noreste remains one of the most violent groups operating in northern Mexico. The organization controls a wide range of illicit activities, including the trafficking of fentanyl, heroin, and weapons, as well as extortion and kidnapping. It currently maintains an alliance with “La Mayiza” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel while contesting the “frontera chica” region against the Cártel del Golfo and other groups such as the Zetas Vieja Escuela and Los Escorpiones.
Looking ahead, the sustained pressure from both U.S. And Mexican agencies is likely to further strain the cartel’s internal cohesion. Analysts expect that continued efforts to dismantle the leadership and financial networks could lead to further splintering within the organization, potentially intensifying localized violence as remaining factions fight to secure their hold over key strategic territories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cártel del Noreste’s relationship with Los Zetas?
The Cártel del Noreste is a splinter group formed by the Treviño Morales family following the fragmentation and decline of the original Los Zetas, which lost its centralized leadership between 2012 and 2015.
What tactics does the organization use to maintain control?
The cartel is known for employing extreme violence and what authorities describe as “narcoterrorism.” This includes attacks on security forces and public intimidation, such as the past use of grenades against the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo.
What regions does the group currently control?
The organization maintains a strong presence in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and Coahuila, where it competes for dominance over smuggling routes and other criminal enterprises.
How do you believe the designation of criminal organizations as “terrorist groups” will affect international security cooperation in the long term?
