US sanctions cartel racetrack tied to casino torture claims
Treasury says the same cartel ran a horse-racing laundering scheme dating back to 2008.
The hit
The US Treasury has sanctioned Club La Molienda, a racetrack near Nuevo Laredo, as part of what it calls its largest financial crackdown on Cartel del Noreste. Treasury says the track ran a betting partnership with Casino Centenario, which Mexican authorities suspended in April.
Why it matters
The sanctions freeze any US assets held by the 11 entities & 4 individuals named, & generally bar Americans from doing business with them. Treasury accuses Casino Centenario of laundering drug money through its gambling operations, on top of storing fentanyl & cocaine & using backrooms to torture cartel enemies.
The record
| Alleged controller | Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales (“Z-40”), incarcerated in the US |
|---|---|
| Horse-racing laundering scheme | $16m spent on racing operations over 30 months, 2008-2012 (US Treasury) |
| Horses seized | 455 horses seized from an Oklahoma farm & other racing & training facilities, June 2012 |
| Monterrey casino arson | 52 killed in 2011 Los Zetas attack (US Treasury) |
What happens next
Watch for any US legal action against the individuals named, including Gamaliel Garza García, & whether Mexican authorities take further steps against properties linked to the sanctioned network.
Sources: US Sanctions Mexican Cartel Racetrack Linked to Casino Accused of Torture
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