Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions

IMPORTANT ADVISORIES AND INFORMATION

OFAC Alert - Timeshare Fraud (March 2, 2023)

Sanctions Brochures

Sanctions Brochures are an overview of OFAC's regulations with regard to the Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions. They are useful quick reference tools.

Overview of Sanctions

Lists of Narcotics Traffickers

Frequently Asked Questions

OFAC has compiled hundreds of frequently asked questions (FAQs)about its sanctions programs and related policies. The links below send the user to OFAC's FAQ pages.

Important Notices

Statement on the Seizure of Seguros Continental S.A. by the Government of Honduras (October 22, 2015)
Statement on the Proposed Liquidation of Banco Continental (October 11, 2015)
Statement on the Felix Maduro Group (June 1, 2016)

Spanish translation:

Declaración sobre el aseguramiento de Seguros Continental, S.A. por parte del Gobierno de Honduras (22 de octubre de 2015)
Declaración sobre el Grupo Felix Maduro (June 1, 2016)

Interpretive Guidance

OFAC issues interpretive guidance on specific issues related to the sanctions programs it administers. These interpretations of OFAC policy are sometimes published in response to a public request for guidance or may be released proactively by OFAC in order to address a complex topic.

Applying for a Specific OFAC License

It may be in your and the U.S. government’s interest to authorize particular economic activity related to Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions. Certain activities related to Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions may be allowed if they are licensed by OFAC. Visit the link below to apply for an OFAC license.

Apply for an OFAC License Online- Authorization from OFAC to engage in a transaction that otherwise would be prohibited.

General Licenses

OFAC issues general licenses in order to authorize activities that would otherwise be prohibited with regard to the Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions. General licenses allow all US persons to engage in the activity described in the general license without needing to apply for a specific license.

Archive of Expired General Licenses

Guidance on OFAC Licensing Policy

Certain activities related to the Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions may be allowed if they are licensed by OFAC. Below OFAC has issued guidance and statements on specific licensing policies as they relate to the Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions.

Licenses for Legal Fees and Costs- Guidance on the Release of Limited Amounts of Blocked Funds for Payment of Legal Fees and Costs Incurred in Challenging the Blocking of U.S. Persons in Administrative or Civil Proceedings
Entities Owned By Blocked Persons- Guidance On Entities Owned By Persons Whose Property And Interests In Property Are Blocked
Statement of Licensing Policy Regarding Transactions of Three Colombian Entities Designated Pursuant to E.O. 12978
Statement of Licensing Policy Regarding Transactions of Six Colombian Entities Designated Pursuant to E.O. 12978
Statement of Licensing Policy Regarding Transactions of Two Colombian Entities Designated Pursuant to E.O. 12978

Impact Reports

OFAC occasionally produces reports that demonstrate the impact of economic sanctions. The report below is related to the impact of the Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions.

Impact Report on Economic Sanctions Against Colombian Drug Cartels (March 2007)

Press Charts

OFAC releases charts of the players in and structures of Narcotics Trafficking Organizations with its press releases.

Archive of Press Charts from 2011-2018

Reports to the Congress

OFAC occasionally transmits reports to the Congress regarding the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

Identification of Kassem Chams (April 11, 2019)
Identification of Jasmeet Hakimzada(February 20, 2019)
Identification of Pedro Luis Zuleta Noscue Drug Trafficking Organization (October 18, 2018)
Identification of Rincon Castillo Drug Trafficking Organization (June 5, 2018)
Identification of Pedro Luis Martin Olivares (May 7, 2018)
Identification of Jian Zhang Drug Trafficking Organization (April 27, 2018)
Identification of Jose Luis Ruelas Torres and the Ruelas Torres Drug Trafficking Organization (May 24, 2017)
Identification of Raul Flores Hernandez and the Flores Drug Trafficking Organization (August 9, 2017)
Identification of Ali Khatib Haji Hassan and the Hassan Drug Trafficking Organization (March 9, 2016)
Identification of Shining Path (Peru)(June 1, 2015)

Legal framework for the Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions

The Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions represent the implementation of multiple legal authorities. Some of these authorities are in the form an executive order issued by the President. Other authorities are public laws (statutes) passed by The Congress. These authorities are further codified by OFAC in its regulations which are published in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Modifications to these regulations are posted in the Federal Register.

Executive Orders

12978 - Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers (Effective Date - October 22, 1995)
14059 - Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade (Effective Date - December 15, 2021)

Statutes

Code of Federal Regulations

31 CFR Part 599 - Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations
31 CFR Part 598 - Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations
31 CFR Part 536 - Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions Regulations

Federal Register Notices

87 FR 78484-22 - Publication of Humanitarian Sanctions Regulations Amendment and General Licenses (Nongovernmental Organizations, Agricultural, and Medicine)
87 FR 78470-22 - Publication of United States Government and International Organizations Official Business Sanctions Regulations Amendment and General Licenses
87 FR 77711-22 - Publication of Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations
87 FR 73647-22 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General License 1A and Subsequent Iterations
87 FR 73643-22 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General Licenses 5, 6, and 7 and Subsequent Iterations
87 FR 73639-22 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General License 4 and Subsequent Iterations
87 FR 73637-22 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General Licenses 2, 3, 3A, and 3B
86 FR 26661-21 - Amendments to the Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions Regulations and Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations
80 FR 74835-15 - Publication of a General License Related to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Program
80 FR 29201-15 - Delegation of Functions Under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
78 FR 33943-13 - Delegation of Functions Under Subsection 804(h)(2)(A) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
71 FR 29251-06- Revisions to IEEPA made by the Combating Terrorism Financing Act of 2005