US Sanctions Mexican Cartel’s Horse-Racing and Business Empire

U.S. targets four people and 11 entities linked to Mexico's Cartel del Noreste, including horse racing and energy networks.

Editorial Desk

October 14, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Mexico City, Mexico — The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on four individuals and 11 entities connected to Mexico’s Cartel del Noreste (CDN), targeting a sprawling business network that includes horse racing, construction, trucking, and energy operations.

The move aims to disrupt the cartel’s financial infrastructure, which officials say has been used to launder drug trafficking profits and fund criminal activities. The sanctioned entities and individuals are believed to have facilitated the movement of illicit funds and provided logistical support to the organization.

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The U.S. government identified a network centered around quarter horse racing, with ties to Club La Molienda, a racetrack located just outside Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Two of the cartel’s founders, Miguel Angel “Z-40” Trevino Morales and Oscar Omar “Z-42” Trevino Morales, were reportedly involved in the operation, which spanned multiple states between 2008 and 2012.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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