Aug 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department on

Wednesday announced sanctions on assets of four individuals whom

it linked to Mexico-based Cartel del Noreste, including the

popular hip-hop artist El Makabelico.

Treasury said the sanctions target three "high-ranking

members" of Cartel del Noreste (Northeast Cartel), which

splintered off from Los Zetas, as well as a "prominent

associate" of the group, Ricardo Hernandez, a 34-year-old

musician known as El Makabelico who has millions of followers on

social media.

Treasury said El Makabelico's concerts and events are used

to launder money on behalf of the organization, "with 50 percent

of his royalties from streaming platforms going directly to the

group."

A YouTube spokesperson said in a statement that

the platform had "terminated channels associated with the

sanctions announced" by the Treasury Department.

"YouTube is committed to compliance with applicable U.S.

sanctions laws," the statement said.

A Spotify ( SPOT ) spokesperson said the company was

reviewing the decision and would comply with its legal

obligations. Apple ( AAPL ) did not immediately respond to

requests for comment.

DEL Records, which Hernandez lists as his label on social

media, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Treasury identified the three other individuals as Abdon

Rodriguez, Antonio Romero and Francisco Esqueda.

Washington said the sanctioned individuals have played a

critical role in the cartel's activities, including drug

trafficking, extortion and money laundering.

The Treasury said it had also sanctioned two "high-ranking

members" of the cartel in May.

The cartel was among those that President Donald Trump's

administration in February designated as global terrorist

organizations.

"The Treasury Department will continue to be relentless in

its effort to put America First by targeting terrorist drug

cartels. These cartels poison Americans with fentanyl and

conduct human smuggling operations along our southwest border,"

said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The Cartel del Noreste is considered one of Mexico's most

violent drug trafficking organizations and wields significant

influence along the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly at Laredo,

Texas, the Treasury said.