The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned six individuals involved in money laundering and cash smuggling through an operation run by the Northeast Cartel (CDN), designated as an international terrorist organization. Among them are lawyer Juan Pablo Penilla and human rights activist Raymundo Ramos. They were accused of being part of, controlled by, or acting on behalf of the CDN. These figures had privileged access to Mexico's political elite, including President Claudia Sheinbaum and former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Penilla allegedly served as an intermediary between imprisoned drug lord Miguel Ángel Treviño and current CDN leaders. Despite their criminal connections, they were welcomed, promoted, and legitimized by the political regime, suggesting potential security failures or complicity. An ongoing investigation in Washington seeks to determine the nature of their ties with regime politicians.
