The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 10 people July 12, including Sinaloa Cartel members and fugitives as well as one entity with its headquarters in Mexico.
Those who were sanctioned are linked to the Los Chapitos group of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is led by brothers Ludim and Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma, who are precursor chemical suppliers based in Sinaloa, Mexico, the agency said in a July 12 news release.
“On my visit to the southwest border, I’ve seen how Treasury’s authorities can best be used to expose and isolate those who profit from deadly fentanyl sales in the United States,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in the release. “Today’s sanctions demonstrate our ability and our resolve to exploit the financial vulnerabilities of networks involved in the illicit fentanyl trade.”
OFAC designated Mexican nationals Noel Lopez Perez and Ricardo Paez Lopez for their roles in drug trafficking and transportation, the sale of precursor chemicals, the management of illegal drug production facilities, cross-border tunnels and enforcement activities for Los Chapitos, the news release said.
Lopez Perez is a brother-in-law of Guzman Loera and an uncle to Ovidio and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, because he is a sibling of Griselda Lopez Perez, the second wife of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, the release reported. The Guzman Lopez brothers are also maternal relatives of Ricardo Paez Lopez and his brother Saul Paez Lopez.
In accordance with executive order 14059, OFAC named Saul Paez Lopez and Joaquin Guzman Lopez in May of this year, according to the release.
More specifically, Mexican nationals Nestor "Nini" Isidro Perez Salas and Oscar "Panu" Noe Medina Gonzalez, fentanyl traffickers and violent enforcers for Los Chapitos, as well as Jeuri Limon Elenes, a methamphetamine trafficker and the brother-in-law of Ricardo and Saul Paez Lopez, were all designated by OFAC July 12, the release reported.
OFAC designated Noel Lopez Perez, Ricardo Paez Lopez, Dora Vanessa Valdez Fernandez, Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez and Jeuri Limon Elenes for engaging in, or attempting 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, the news release said.
"As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC," the release said. "In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50% or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons."
