The United States Treasury placed eight members of the violent drug cartel, Oficina de Envigado, a Medellin-based crime group, on the Treasury department’s “Kingpin list” Tuesday, according to a statement from USA Embassy in Bogota.
PROFILE: Oficina de Envigado
The Kingpin List is the colloquial term for the US Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN), compiled by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The list orders the suspension of all illegal activities of the individuals or groups named and prohibits any US citizen to make transactions with these entities.
Oficina de Envigado was included in the Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers list (SDNT) in June, which means that any person or business associated with the Oficina could face fines or prison.
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“La Oficina’s cadres of enforcers intimidate, extort, and murder citizens and officials, including courageous judicial and law enforcement partners throughout Colombia,” said Adam Szubin, director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, in a statement.
Some of the sanctioned individuals are currently in prison, but according to the statement they keep coordinating criminal operations. Here are the names of the eight individuals:
- Julian Andrey Gonzalez, alias ‘Barny’, a fugitive from justice, wanted for the murder of two Colombian policemen in 2012.
- Jesus Hernández, alias ‘Chaparro’, former head of assassins.
- Rubiel Medina Cardona, alias ‘Mono Amalfi’, captured.
- Freyner Alfonso Ramirez, alias ‘Carlos Pesebre’, captured.
- Edinson Rijas, alias ‘Pichi’, captured.
- Alberto Muñoz, alias ‘Chamizo’, fugitive.
- Didier de Jesus Rios, alias ‘Tuto’, fugitive.
- Juan Carlos Mesa, alias Tom, located in the municipality of Bello, but whose criminal influence extends throughout Medellín.