Who is El Makabelico? Mexican rapper reportedly faces treasury sanctions amid links to cartel

Mexican rapper El Makabelico is reportedly facing sanctions by the U.S. Treasury.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced on Wednesday that three high-ranking members and one prominent associate of the notorious Cartel del Noreste in Mexico have been sanctioned for allegedly laundering money. One of the people sanctioned was Ricardo Hernandez Medrano, better known as El Makabelico.

The Treasury Department agency stated, "The CDN's influence in the Mexican border cities of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, has impacted communities on both sides of the border, and the cartel's role in fentanyl trafficking and human trafficking to the United States puts American lives at risk."

The statement further added, "As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons described above that are located in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC."

Who is El Makabelic?

El Makabelic, whose real name is Ricardo Hernandez Medrano, is a narco-rapper with more than 2 million followers on YouTube and 1 million followers on Instagram. He also goes by Comando Exclusivo and is known for songs like El Sobrino, El Two Six, and more.

The rapper has also been accused of laundering money on behalf of CDN through his concerts and events, as well as allowing 50 percent of his royalties to go directly to the group's funds.

The OFAC stated, "Hernández is being designated pursuant to EO 14059 and EO 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."

Along with El Makabelic, Abdón Federico Rodríguez García, also known as Chucho Rodríguez, who is the second-in-command of the CDN, Antonio Romero Sánchez, who is considered a high-ranking member of the Cartel, and Francisco Daniel Esqueda Nieto, better known as Franky Esqueda, have also been sanctioned.

The agency also revealed that "In June 2025, the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 72 undocumented immigrants and seized cash, narcotics, and firearms at a CDN-run nightclub during an operation in South Carolina. This unlicensed establishment was involved in drug, weapons, and human trafficking operations."

OFAC has stated that the Cartel del Noreste runs in both Mexico and the United States, using drug distribution centers throughout Texas, and has partners across other states.

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