The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken action against the Los Pochos Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) based in Guatemala. The DTO, primarily engaged in cocaine trafficking from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States, has been a target of sanctions since 2019. According to Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson, the Los Pochos DTO has continued to facilitate the flow of illicit drugs using corrupt officials.
The Los Pochos DTO, associated with Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, controls narcotics trafficking activities on the Guatemala-Mexico border. Despite a change in leadership and the involvement of its members in local Guatemalan politics, the DTO remains active. The OFAC's recent action, coordinated with various law enforcement entities, aims to disrupt the DTO's operations and deadly drug flows.
One of the key figures in the Los Pochos DTO is Juan Jose Morales Cifuentes, a Guatemala-based cocaine distributor and transportation coordinator linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. Morales Cifuentes, known for using violence to resolve conflicts, has been charged with multiple crimes, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine to the United States. Similarly, Isel Aneli Suñiga Morfin, identified as a leader of the DTO and the daughter of a significant narcotics trafficker, has been elected as the mayor of Ayutla, using her political connections to further the DTO's interests.
Erick Manuel Ochoa Villagran, another member of the Los Pochos DTO, has been arrested on murder charges and faces extradition to the United States for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Additionally, four entities owned or controlled by DTO members have been designated for their involvement in illicit activities, with all entities registered in the Guatemalan Department of San Marcos.
The sanctions imposed by OFAC require all property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities to be blocked and reported. U.S. persons engaging in transactions involving these blocked individuals or entities may face civil or criminal penalties. The recent action is part of a broader effort to combat the trafficking of illicit drugs into the United States, aligning with President Biden's National Drug Control Strategy.
OFAC's sanctions aim to disrupt the drug production and trafficking pipeline that harms Americans, with a focus on saving lives and addressing the nation's overdose epidemic. The ultimate goal of sanctions is to bring about positive changes in behavior. The Biden-Harris Administration's comprehensive strategy includes historic investments in public health interventions to tackle addiction and drug trafficking profits, ultimately strengthening public safety.
