US Treasury Sanctions Ecuador-to-US Cocaine Trafficking Network

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned 15 individuals associated with a network allegedly involved in trafficking cocaine from Ecuador through Mexico into the United States. The operation utilizes Ecuador-based fishing vessels to transfer cocaine to power boats heading north.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the sanctions, which freeze any U.S.-based assets of the individuals and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them. “This action targets a significant drug trafficking network that exploits maritime routes to smuggle narcotics into the United States,” said Andrea Gacki, Director of OFAC.

According to the Treasury Department, the network operates by loading cocaine onto fishing vessels in Ecuador. These vessels then meet power boats in international waters, where the drugs are transferred and transported further north. The operation highlights the complex methods used by drug trafficking organizations to evade law enforcement.

The sanctioned individuals include key figures within the network, responsible for coordinating the maritime transfers and ensuring the smooth operation of the cocaine shipments. The Treasury Department did not disclose the identities of those sanctioned, citing ongoing investigations.

This action is part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt international drug trafficking networks. The Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have been working closely with international partners to dismantle these operations. “We will continue to target the financial networks of drug traffickers and disrupt their ability to operate,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)