Mexico

This action identifies nine companies and eight individuals associated with the Arriola Marquez Organization and three companies and four individuals associated with the Arellano Felix Organization. OFAC has also blocked pending investigation an additional six Mexican individuals associated with Mexican drug kingpins Oscar Arturo Arriola Marquez and Miguel Angel Arriola Marquez, leaders of the Arriola Marquez Organization. Oscar Arturo Arriola Marquez, Miguel Angel Arriola Marquez and the Arriola Marquez Organization were all identified by President Bush as drug kingpins on June 1, 2005. The Arriola Marquez Organization, based in Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico is linked to Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin Guzman Loera (Chapo Guzman) and the Carrillo Fuentes Organization, previously named as drug kingpins by the President. The Arriola Marquez Organization controls a significant flow of marijuana and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. Oscar and Miguel Arriola Marquez are indicted in the District of Colorado for drug trafficking and money laundering violations. Today's action targets eight individuals and nine companies that are part of the money laundering network owned or controlled by the Arriola Marquez Organization. Two additional Arriola Marquez brothers, Luis Raul and Edgar Fernando Arriola Marquez, are named, as well as other key front individuals. In Chihuahua, Mexico, the front companies consist of two large cattle businesses - Corrales San Ignacio S.P.R. de R.L. de C.V. and Del Norte Carnes Finas San Ignacio S.A. de C.V., two real estate firms - Inmobiliaria El Escorpion del Norte S.A. de C.V. and Inmobiliaria El Preson S.A. de C.V., an automotive sales company - Auto Express Dorados S.A. de C.V., a gasoline distributor - Gasolineras San Fernando S.A. de C.V., and a food processing/distribution conglomerate Chihuahua Foods S.A. de C.V. and Indio Vitorio S. de P.R. de R.L. de C.V. A Mexican currency exchange house, Cambios Palmilla S.A. de C.V., which serves as a major financial front for the Arriola Marquez Organization, is also designated. All of these front companies launder U.S. currency illicitly earned through narcotics sales in the United States and bulk smuggled back to Mexico.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/js2686

2005-06-01

US

Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 598

OFAC-horizontal

Drugs

Blocking Property

The Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 598 (FNKSR), implement the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (21 U.S.C. 1901–1908), which provides authority for the application of sanctions to significant foreign narcotics traffickers and their organizations operating worldwide.

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