The United States government has sanctioned a company linked to the Northeast Cartel (CDN) for allegedly channeling funds to the election campaigns of “preferred candidates” aligned with the criminal organization.
The entity targeted is Construcciones y Edificaciones Garza Elías, S.A. de C.V. (CEGESA), a company owned by businessman Gamaliel Garza García. According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the company maintains significant operations in northern Mexico.
U.S. authorities identified Garza García as a horse racing enthusiast and a suspected collaborator of the CDN. The accusations also extend to Gamaliel Garza Elías, the businessman’s son, whom the U.S. accuses of participating in CEGESA’s operations and delivering cash to finance the political campaigns of aspirants backed by the cartel in Mexico. Notably, the U.S. government did not specify which individual candidates allegedly received the funds.
Corrupt Government Contracts and Subcontracting Networks
According to the Department of the Treasury, CEGESA held several government contracts obtained corruptly. These contracts were subsequently subcontracted to individuals linked to the Northeast Cartel.
The construction firm is among the primary recipients of public contracts in northern Mexico, including projects for the governments of Nuevo Laredo and other municipalities in Tamaulipas. The accusation highlights a mechanism in which contracts obtained by a formal company were used to channel resources and economic activities toward individuals associated with the criminal group.
The business network flagged by the Treasury also includes Concretos y Productos Asfálticos del Norte, S.A. de C.V. (COPASA). Based in Nuevo Laredo, COPASA is a material supply company created by Garza García to vertically integrate the construction contract business. While CEGESA performed or subcontracted the construction work, COPASA supplied the necessary materials for execution.
Broader Network of Sanctioned Firms
In addition to CEGESA and COPASA, the Treasury included several other companies attributed to Garza García’s business network in its sanctions list:
- Construaceros del Fuerte, S.A. de C.V.: Construction services.
- Inova NLD Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, S.A. de C.V.: Real estate and construction activities.
- Distribuidora de Gas Económico, S.A. de C.V.: Fuel and gas trade.
- Gas Energía Confiable, S.A. de C.V.: Fuel and gas sector.
- Propane Trading Group, S.A. de C.V.: Fuel and gas marketing.
- Transportadora de Gas de Nuevo Laredo, S.A. de C.V.: Gas transportation.
- Cuadra San Dibanh: A facility for the breeding and training of quarter horses.
The Treasury maintains that these companies form a network with presence in construction, material supply, fuel, gas transportation, and horse racing, all of which serve to finance the operations of the Northeast Cartel.
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