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5/13/2020

Treasury Designates Sinaloa Cartel Members Under the Kingpin Act

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Press Center

Treasury Designates Sinaloa Cartel Members Under the Kingpin Act
12/15/2009

TG-444
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated two Mexican nationals and one
Colombian national as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) for providing material support to the drug trafficking activities of
the Sinaloa Cartel. OFAC also today designated two Mexican companies and two Colombian companies as SDNTs. Today's action,
pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act), prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial
transactions with these entities and individuals and freezes any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction.
The Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful and violent Mexican drug trafficking organization identified by the President pursuant to the Kingpin Act in
April 2009, is led by Joaquin Guzman Loera (a.k.a. " El Chapo"), Ismael Zambada Garcia (a.k.a. " El Mayo"), and Ignacio Coronel Villareal
(a.k.a. " Nacho"), all previously identified by the President as Significant Foreign Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Kingpin Act.
"Today's action builds on the President's identification of the Sinaloa Cartel in April and OFAC's commitment to working with our partners
in Mexico to disrupt and deter the illicit activities of this dangerous organization," said OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin. "We will continue to
aggressively track and expose those who support the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, Colombia and elsewhere."
Mexican nationals Agustin Reyes Garza (a.k.a. " Don Pilo") and Hector Contreras Novoa were designated today due to their material
support to the drug trafficking activities of the Sinaloa Cartel. Reyes Garza, a fugitive from Honduran drug trafficking charges, owns or
controls two businesses identified in today's action, Estetic Carr de Occidente S.A. de C.V. and Estetica Car Wash S.A. de C.V., located in
Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Contreras Novoa was indicted in 2005 on cocaine conspiracy charges filed in the U.S. District Court for the
District of Columbia. Both individuals operate from Guadalajara, Mexico.
Colombian national Nestor Alonso Tarazona Enciso was designated today due to his material support to the drug trafficking activities of
the Sinaloa Cartel. Tarazona Enciso owns or controls Agropecuaria La Cruz S.A. and Criadero Las Cabanas Ltda., two livestock
companies registered in Bogota, Colombia that were also designated today. Tarazona Enciso was convicted on federal cocaine trafficking
charges and served a prison sentence in the United States. After completing his sentence in 1995 and returning to Colombia, Tarazona
Enciso once again became involved in drug trafficking activities. He operates from San Martin, Meta, Colombia.
This action is part of ongoing efforts under the Kingpin Act to apply financial measures against significant foreign narcotics traffickers
worldwide. Internationally, more than 500 businesses and individuals associated with 82 drug kingpins have been designated pursuant to
the Kingpin Act since June 2000, 37 of which are based in Mexico. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of
up to $1.075 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in
prison and fines up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million. Other individuals face up to 10 years in prison
and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.
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REPORTS
Sinaloa Cartel

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5/13/2020

Treasury Designates Sinaloa Cartel Members Under the Kingpin Act

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