Reported by Héctor Ríos Morales

(Excerpt shown below. To read full report, go to: https://www.latintimes.com/us-sanctions-mexican-rapper-el-makabelico-laundering-cartel-del-noreste-money-through-concerts-588074)

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned three senior members and one associate of the Cártel del Noreste (CDN)—formerly known as Los Zetas—for their roles in the cartel’s criminal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering.

Among those sanctioned is Ricardo Hernández, a popular Mexican rapper known as “El Makabelico.” OFAC described him as a “prominent associate” of the cartel, alleging that his music career and public persona have been used to support CDN’s operations.

According to the U.S. officials, the cartel launders money through El Makabelico’s concerts and public events. They added that up to 50 percent of the rapper’s streaming royalties from platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music go directly to the criminal organization.

“CDN depends on these alternative revenue streams and money laundering methods to boost their criminal enterprise, diversifying their income beyond criminal activity like drug trafficking, human smuggling, and extortion,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.

The other three individuals named in the sanctions are Abdon Rodríguez, Antonio Romero and Francisco Esqueda.

Rodríguez, also known as “Cucho,” is allegedly the cartel’s second-in-command. According to OFAC, he is involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, fuel theft and extortion. He is also accused of ordering and carrying out executions on behalf of the group.