Three alleged leaders of the Northeast Cartel were arrested in the municipality of Villaldama, Nuevo León, following a joint operation carried out by members of the National Defense, the National Guard, and the Civil Force.
According to authorities, the suspects, identified as Hugo “N,” 26, Héctor “N,” 22, and Leonel “N,” also 26, were intercepted in the early hours of May 22 while traveling along the Potrero Highway.
According to reports, the operation was activated after locating a Honda Pilot with Texas license plates, matching the description previously obtained through intelligence.
When they were stopped, the occupants of the car responded by firing at the officers, who, using operational tactics, managed to neutralize the attack. The suspects stopped a few meters further on and laid down their weapons.
During the precautionary inspection of the vehicle and the detainees’ belongings, authorities found an arsenal that included three long guns with 61 rounds of ammunition, nine magazines with 215 bullets, three ballistic vests, three radio frequency devices, and a supply of ammunition.
In addition, 24 doses of a white powder substance that appeared to be cocaine were found.
The three men were wanted for their alleged links to the Northeast Cartel, which operates nationwide and is linked to illicit activities such as extortion, human trafficking, homicides, robbery with violence, attacks against institutions, deprivation of liberty, and other serious crimes.
This group has been singled out for its ability to operate in various regions of the country, making it a priority target for security forces.
Following their capture, the detainees were handed over to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, where their legal status will be determined.
US Sanctions Senior Leaders of the Northeast Cartel
Ricardo González Sauceda, known as El Ricky, and Miguel Ángel de Anda Ledezma, alias Miguelón, both identified as senior leaders of the Northeast Cartel, have been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The announcement was made on May 21 by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who emphasized that the decision responds to the campaign led by President Donald Trump to dismantle these organizations. In his statements, Bessent noted that the Northeast Cartel and its leaders have carried out acts of violence, intimidation, kidnappings, and terrorism that affect communities in both Mexico and the United States.
Miguelón, born on September 16, 1984, in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, is identified as a prominent member of the criminal organization. According to Treasury Department reports, his role within the cartel includes the acquisition of weapons and ammunition, as well as overseeing payments to facilitators and front men in the United States. One of the weapons acquired under his supervision was used in an armed attack against the Mexican Army in March of last year, underscoring his involvement in violent activities.
For his part, El Ricky, also originally from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, was arrested in early February in possession of more than 1,000 fentanyl pills. This seizure reinforces allegations of his involvement in drug trafficking, one of the Northeast Cartel’s main illicit activities. The organization, which has been criticized for its ability to operate on both sides of the border, has intensified its influence in the trafficking of illegal substances and in acts of violence that affect regional security.
The OFAC designation of these two individuals as sanctions targets entails the freezing of any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction, as well as a ban on U.S. citizens and companies from conducting transactions with them. These measures seek to weaken the cartel’s financial operations and limit its ability to operate internationally.
The Northeast Cartel, which emerged as a spinoff of the Zetas, has been criticized for its brutality and for maintaining an operational structure that includes drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping.
Source: infobae
