![]() |
||
![]() |
FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS To view or print the PDF content on this page, download the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®. October 17, 2003JS-915 WASHINGTON -- The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today added 39 businesses acting as front companies for the Cali drug cartel based in Colombia and 95 individuals associated with the cartel, and its activities through front companies, to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs). Through a network of pharmaceutical businesses, the cartel has laundered money and has penetrated the Colombian economy. These front companies form a vital part of the Cali cartel’s international money laundering network. This action freezes their assets and prohibits financial and commercial transactions with U.S. nationals. The Treasury Department will continue to work with Colombian authorities on further actions to shut down the cartel’s financial network. “Today’s action demonstrates the Cali cartel’s continued use of pharmaceutical companies throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to launder drug money and to penetrate the legitimate economy,” stated OFAC Director Rick Newcomb. “The U.S. banking and pharmaceutical sectors should renew their vigilance against providing financial services or supplying products to these front companies.” Included among the 39 businesses designated today are Interfarma/Jomaga de Costa Rica in Costa Rica, Latinfarmacos and Espibena in Ecuador, Colfarma Peru in Peru, Premier Sales in Panama, and C.A. V.J. Corporation in Venezuela, all affiliated with the international drug distribution of Cali cartel pharmaceutical laboratories Pentacoop and Farmacoop on the SDNT list. Also named today are numerous financial fronts in Colombia, such as Coopdisan, Drofarco, and Incommerce, which are created by the Cali cartel using trusted corporate officers to provide bank account services to its business fronts. Inversiones Carfeni and two internet companies in Spain and Ash Trading Inc. in the United States were also named. Today’s action is a follow-up to sanction actions directed against the Cali cartel in February and March of this year. The international network of 39 Cali cartel fronts named today join 340 other Colombian drug cartel businesses on the SDNT list. The list includes Cali cartel businesses Copservir, and its Drogas La Rebaja drugstore chain and Credirebaja charge card, the Obursatiles stock brokerage and Internacional de Divisas money exchange house, the Cosmepop cosmetics company, the America de Cali professional soccer team, as well as consulting, investment, financial, construction, real estate, agricultural, and distribution firms. This action is part of the ongoing interagency effort of the Treasury, Justice, State, and Homeland Security Departments to carry out Executive Order 12978, signed on October 21, 1995, which applies economic sanctions against Colombia’s drug cartels. The assets of a total of 958 Colombian drug cartel businesses and individuals are now blocked under the 1995 Executive Order; and those businesses and individuals are prohibited from American financial and business dealings. The list of SDNTs includes 14 kingpins from Colombia’s Cali, North Valle, and North Coast drug cartels. A fact sheet and diagram listing the businesses and individuals named by OFAC as SDNTs today is attached. -30- FACT SHEET: The United States government has named 134 additional companies and persons as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (“SDNTs”). Based upon available information, we have reason to believe that Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, leaders of the infamous Cali drug cartel that operates out of Cali, Colombia, own or control various companies in the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Spain, the United States, and Venezuela through a network of individuals who act for or on their behalf. Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela were named as SDNTs on October 21, 1995 pursuant to Executive Order 12978. This international network of companies centers around Rodriguez Orejuela family members and a cadre of trusted business associates, including Colombian, Spanish, Peruvian, and Venezuelan nationals. These individuals are the administrators and shareholders of this network of companies and act for or on behalf of Gilberto and Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela in their business dealings. Also, this international network of companies is interconnected to Cali cartel front companies established in Colombia.
ARDILA-MARMOLEJO, LTD., ARDILA-MARMOLEJO, LTD., f.k.a. HUYO-GIRALDO, LTD., is an off-shore holding company based in the Bahamas. Luis Alejandro ARDILA HUYO, a Colombian national, is the president and treasurer of ARDILA-MARMOLEJO, LTD. In February 2003, Luis Alejandro ARDILA HUYO was named as an SDNT in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978. Luis Alejandro ARDILA HUYO also is a director and shareholder in Cali cartel front companies in Colombia. SEPULVEDA-IRAGORRI, LTD., SEPULVEDA-IRAGORRI, LTD. is an off-shore holding company based in the Bahamas. In addition to being owners of SEPULVEDA-IRAGORRI, LTD., Efrain Hernan SEPULVEDA ZAPATA and Maria Consuelo IRAGORRI TORRES, Colombian nationals, are president and secretary of the company, respectively. In March 2003, both Efrain Hernan SEPULVEDA ZAPATA and Maria Consuelo IRAGORRI TORRES were named as SDNTs in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978. Efrain Hernan SEPULVEDA ZAPATA and Maria Consuelo IRAGORRI TORRES also are directors and shareholders in Cali cartel front companies in Colombia. B. COMPANIES IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS KESMAN OVERSEAS,
ZARATAN CORPORATION, ZARATAN CORPORATION is an off-shore holding company based in the British Virgin Islands. Rodrigo Jose SARASTI GUERRERO, a Colombian national, is an officer and 50 percent shareholder of KESMAN OVERSEAS. Rodrigo Jose SARASTI GUERRERO also is the general manager and shareholder in a Cali cartel front company in Colombia.
JOMAGA DE COSTA RICA S.A., JOMAGA DE COSTA RICA S.A., a.k.a. INTERFARMA S.A., is a pharmaceutical distributor based in San Jose, Costa Rica. Fernando VILLOTA GALVIS, a Colombian national, is the treasurer of JOMAGA DE COSTA RICA S.A., a.k.a. INTERFARMA S.A. In April 1997, Fernando VILLOTA GALVIS was named as an SDNT in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978. Fernando VILLOTA GALVIS also is an officer and director in Cali cartel front companies in Colombia. In addition, Giovanny Mauricio LARA SANCHEZ and Sonia Viviana FORERO SALAMANCA, both Colombian nationals, are president and secretary of JOMAGA DE COSTA RICA S.A., a.k.a. INTERFARMA S.A., respectively. Giovanny Mauricio LARA SANCHEZ and Sonia Viviana FORERO SALAMANCA also are employees in a Cali cartel front company in Colombia. Further, JOMAGA DE COSTA RICA S.A., a.k.a. INTERFARMA S.A., has a financial relationship with MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA., a Cali cartel front company based in Colombia. MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. was named as an SDNT in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in February 2003.
ESPIBENA COMERCIALIZADORA DE MEDICAMENTOS GENERICOS S.A., ESPIBENA COMERCIALIZADORA DE MEDICAMENTOS GENERICOS S.A., a.k.a. ESPIBENA S.A., is a pharmaceutical distributor based in Quito, Ecuador. William Edison JIMENEZ MARIN, a Colombian national, is the manager of ESPIBENA S.A. William Edison JIMENEZ MARIN also is an officer and employee in Cali cartel front companies in Colombia. In addition, ESPIBENA S.A. has a significant financial relationship with MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. and PENTACOOP, both Cali cartel front companies based in Colombia. MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. and PENTACOOP were named as SDNTs in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in February 2003 and April 1997, respectively. LATINOAMERICANA DE FARMACOS S.A., LATINOAMERICANA DE FARMACOS S.A., a.k.a. LATINFARMACOS S.A., a.k.a. FARMACIA AMAZONAS, a.k.a. FARMACIA DORAL, a.k.a. FARMACIA JARDIN SUR, a.k.a. FARMACIA LA COLINA, a.k.a. FARMACIA PROVIDA, is a pharmaceutical distributor and drug store chain based in Quito, Ecuador. Colombian national Ruben Dario RESTREPO HERNANDEZ, and Rodriguez Orejuela family members Soraya MUNOZ RODRIGUEZ, Juan Carlos MUNOZ RODRIGUEZ, Jaime RODRIGUEZ MONDRAGON, and Humberto RODRIGUEZ MONDRAGON are officers and shareholders in LATINOAMERICANA DE FARMACOS S.A. Ruben Dario RESTREPO HERNANDEZ was named as an SDNT in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in April 1997, while Soraya MUNOZ RODRIGUEZ, Juan Carlos MUNOZ RODRIGUEZ, Jaime RODRIGUEZ MONDRAGON, and Humberto RODRIGUEZ MONDRAGON were named as SDNTs in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in October 1995. Ruben Dario RESTREPO HERNANDEZ, Soraya MUNOZ RODRIGUEZ, Juan Carlos MUNOZ RODRIGUEZ, Jaime RODRIGUEZ MONDRAGON, and Humberto RODRIGUEZ MONDRAGON also are officers/directors/shareholders in Cali cartel front companies in Colombia. In February 2002, Colombian authorities released a bulletin announcing the investigation of Humberto RODRIGUEZ MONDRAGON on charges of money laundering. In addition, LATINOAMERICANA DE FARMACOS S.A. is administered jointly with RIONAP S.A., a Cali cartel front company also based in Quito, Ecuador. RIONAP S.A. was named as an SDNT in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in March 1996. E. COMPANY IN PANAMA PREMIER SALES S.A., PREMIER SALES S.A. is a pharmaceutical distributor based in Panama City, Panama. PREMIER SALES S.A. has a significant financial relationship with MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. and PENTACOOP, both Cali cartel front companies based in Colombia. MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. and PENTACOOP were named as SDNTs in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in February 2003 and April 1997, respectively. F. COMPANY AND INDIVIDUAL IN PERU COLFARMA PERU S.A., COLFARMA PERU S.A. is a pharmaceutical distributor based in Lima, Peru. COLFARMA PERU S.A. has a significant business and financial relationship with MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA., PENTACOOP, and DROMARCA Y CIA., all Cali cartel front companies based in Colombia. MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA., PENTACOOP, and DROMARCA Y CIA. were named as SDNTs in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in February 2003, April 1997, and April 2000, respectively. MORALES LUYO, Luis Jaime, Luis Jaime MORALES LYUO, a Peruvian national, is president, legal representative, and a shareholder of COLFARMA PERU S.A., which has a significant business and financial relationship with MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA., PENTACOOP, and DROMARCA Y CIA., all Cali cartel front companies based in Colombia. G. COMPANIES IN SPAIN INVERSIONES CARFENI, S.L., INVERSIONES CARFENI, S.L., is an investment company based in Madrid, Spain. GALERIA DE PORTALES, S.A., GALERIA DE PORTALES, S.A. is an internet services company based in Madrid, Spain. SOCIEDAD INVERSORA EN PROYECTOS DE INTERNET, S.A., SOCIEDAD INVERSORA EN PROYECTOS DE INTERNET, S.A. is an internet services company based in Madrid, Spain. H. COMPANY AND INDIVIDUAL IN VENEZUELA C.A. V.J. CORPORATION, C.A. V.J. CORPORATION is a pharmaceutical distributor based in Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela. C.A. V.J. CORPORATION has a significant business and financial relationship with MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. and DROMARCA Y CIA., Cali cartel front companies based in Colombia. MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. and DROMARCA Y CIA. were named as SDNTs in Colombia pursuant to Executive Order 12978 in February 2003 and April 2000, respectively. In addition, the president and majority shareholder of C.A. V.J. CORPORATION is Venezuelan national Victor Julio ESCALONA. He also is a business partner with Colombian national Gustavo Alberto CORREA CANCINO, an officer in DROMARCA Y CIA., in C A V J CORPORATION LTDA., the Colombian affiliate of C.A. V.J. CORPORATION based in Venezuela. ESCALONA, Victor Julio, Victor Julio ESCALONA, a Venezuelan national, is president and majority shareholder of C.A. V.J. CORPORATION, which has a significant business and financial relationship with MATERIAS PRIMAS Y SUMINISTROS LTDA. and DROMARCA Y CIA., Cali cartel front companies based in Colombia. In addition, he also is business partner with Colombian national Gustavo Alberto CORREA CANCINO, an officer in DROMARCA Y CIA., in the Colombian affiliate of C.A. V.J. CORPORATION, C A V J CORPORATION LTDA. Further, Victor Julio ESCALONA is the manager, legal representative, and a shareholder of the pharmaceutical distributor VOL PHARMACY LTDA. based in Colombia.
Related Documents: |
![]() |