Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, a fugitive leader of Tren de Aragua (TdA). This organization, originating from Venezuela and identified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), is involved in various criminal activities including drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and money laundering.
“TdA remains focused on terrorizing our communities and facilitating the flow of illicit narcotics into our country, relying on key leaders like Mosquera Serrano to finance and oversee their violent operations,” stated Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. He emphasized that the Treasury will continue efforts to disrupt TdA’s operations in coordination with U.S. law enforcement.
The sanctions align with other governmental actions against Mosquera Serrano. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has added him to its Ten Most Wanted list. Additionally, the Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging him with drug trafficking and terrorism-related activities. The Department of State is offering up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction through its Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.
Mosquera Serrano was declared an FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive today. On February 20, 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated as an FTO by the U.S. Department of State and had been previously sanctioned by OFAC as a significant Transnational Criminal Organization.
Today’s sanctions under Executive Orders 13581 and 13224 block all property and interests belonging to Mosquera Serrano within U.S. jurisdiction or control by U.S. persons. Transactions involving blocked persons are generally prohibited unless authorized by OFAC.
Violations can lead to civil or criminal penalties for both U.S. and foreign entities involved in unauthorized transactions with blocked individuals or entities. OFAC may also impose secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions engaged in significant transactions with designated persons.
OFAC’s ability to enforce these measures derives from designating individuals on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) while maintaining a process for removal if behavior changes positively.
For more details about today’s designation, click here.
