OFAC designated La Molienda pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, CDN.
INSIDE THE WINNER’S CIRCLE – TRACKSIDE ASSOCIATES OF CDN
a race at La Molienda.
Gamaliel Garza Garcia (Garza Garcia) is a Mexico-based businessman, horse racing enthusiast, and an associate of CDN. Garza Garcia is involved in horse racing in both Mexico and the United States, racing at some of the most prestigious tracks in California and New Mexico. Garza Garcia and his horses frequently race at La Molienda.
Garza Garcia’s company, Construcciones y Edificaciones Garza Elias S.A. de C.V. (CEGESA), has been utilized by CDN to funnel money to election campaigns of CDN’s preferred political candidates. Additionally, CEGESA has corruptly obtained government contracts and then sub-contracted that work to CDN-affiliated individuals. CEGESA is a major recipient of government contracts in the north of the country, including from the governments of the municipality of Nuevo Laredo and the state of Tamaulipas.
Garza Garcia created the Nuevo Laredo-based material supply company Concretos y Productos Asfalticos del Norte, S.A. de C.V. (COPASA) to vertically integrate the illicit construction contract scheme. CEGESA performed or subcontracted the work, while COPASA provided the materials. As of early 2026, CEGESA and COPASA were some of the only construction companies authorized by CDN to perform construction work in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.
Garza Garcia controls Cuadra San Dibanh, an Anahuac, Nuevo Leon-based Quarter Horse racing barn. Cuadra San Dibanh frequently races at La Molienda and other major racetracks throughout Mexico.
Garza Garcia also owns and controls an extensive corporate network of construction and fuel companies in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. This includes the following six companies, all based in Nuevo Laredo:
- Construaceros del Fuerte, S.A. de C.V., a construction company;
- Inova NLD Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, S.A. de C.V., a construction company;
- Distribuidora de Gas Economico, S.A. de C.V., a fuel and gas company;
- Gas Energia Confiable, S.A. de C.V., a fuel and gas company;
- Propane Trading Group, S.A. de C.V., a fuel and gas company; and
- Transportadora de Gas de Nuevo Laredo, S.A. de C.V., a fuel and gas transportation company.
Gamaliel Garza Elias (Garza Elias), Garza Garcia’s son, is being designated for his role in CEGESA, where he is involved in the day-to-day operations of CEGESA. Garza Elias has also delivered cash to fund election campaigns for CDN’s preferred political candidates in Mexico.
OFAC designated Garza Garcia pursuant to E.O. 14059, for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, CDN. Garza Garcia is also being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, CDN.
OFAC designated CEGESA; COPASA; Cuadra San Dibanh; Construaceros del Fuerte, S.A. de C.V.; Inova NLD Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, S.A. de C.V.; Distribuidora de Gas Economico, S.A. de C.V.; Gas Energia Confiable, S.A. de C.V.; Propane Trading Group, S.A. de C.V.; and Transportadora de Gas de Nuevo Laredo, S.A. de C.V. pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Garza Garcia.
OFAC designated Garza Elias pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended,for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, CEGESA.
OTHER PLAYERS IN THE NUEVO LAREDO PLAZA
Pablo Cesar Guajardo Alvarez (Guajardo), known as “Takia,” is a current CDN plaza boss of Nuevo Laredo and former leader of CDN’s sicarios. Plaza bosses are in charge of all cartel activity in their area of responsibility. Guajardo was arrested in 2020 for his connection to the January 4, 2017 assassination of Ricardo Martinez Chavez and four public servants, but has since been released. Guajardo has been involved in arms trafficking on behalf of CDN.
OFAC designated Guajardo pursuant to E.O. 14059, and pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, CDN.
Tamex Leasing or Tamex Logistics (Tamex) is a Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas-based trucking company involved in the smuggling of narcotics into the United States. Tamex’s truckyard in Nuevo Laredo has been the originator of at least two cocaine shipments bound for the United States. Seized by law enforcement, these shipments were stored in hidden compartments of the trailers’ brake drums and totaled 52 kilograms. Francisco Javier Inzunza Partida (Inzunza) is a dispatcher for Tamex who was involved in dispatching the two trailers seized for concealed narcotics.
OFAC designated Tamex and Inzunza pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.
Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC’s enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause
U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. Individuals located in the United States or abroad who provide information about sanctions violations to Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s whistleblower incentive program may be eligible for awards if the information they provide leads to a successful enforcement action that results in monetary penalties exceeding $1,000,000.
Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the persons designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.