• The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned rapper El Makabelico over alleged money laundering for the Cartel del Noreste.
• 50% of El Makabelico's royalties reportedly go to the cartel to support its operations.
• The sanctions aim to disrupt the financial networks tied to drug trafficking and related crimes.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently announced sanctions against four individuals linked to the Cartel del Noreste, a violent drug trafficking organization in Mexico. Among those sanctioned is Ricardo Hernández, known as El Makabelico, a hip-hop artist accused of laundering money for the cartel through his concerts. The Treasury stated that half of his streaming revenues are funneled directly to the cartel, raising significant concerns regarding the intersection of music and organized crime, according to Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and Reuters.

The sanctions not only block El Makabelico's properties in the U.S. but also freeze any financial transactions associated with the individuals sanctioned. This move signals the U.S. government's effort to target alternative revenue streams that the Cartel del Noreste relies on to finance its activities, including drug trafficking and extortion. The Treasury has emphasized its commitment to combating such organizations, particularly given the opioid crisis fueled by fentanyl, as emphasized by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

The Cartel del Noreste is considered one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico, involved in numerous criminal activities. The sanctions also come in the context of broader actions by the Trump administration, which has stripped visas from several Mexican artists in a crackdown on genres that glorify cartels, including "narco-corridos." The genre reflects the realities of life in cartel-dominated areas, sparking a debate over artistic expression versus criminal glorification, as detailed in reports from Los Angeles Times and CBS News.

Responses from the music industry have been mixed, with some artists facing repercussions for their ties to cartel themes. Recent months have seen the revocation of visas for bands that have overtly associated with cartel imagery in performances, further complicating the landscape for artists within this genre, according to Reuters and CBS News.