OFAC Adds Persons to SDN List for Illicit Drug Trade and Terrorism

Regs.gov: Office of Foreign Assets Control

Published August 14th, 2025

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has published a notice adding individuals to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. These designations are based on involvement in the global illicit drug trade and terrorism, leading to the blocking of their assets and prohibition of transactions with U.S. persons.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a notice announcing the addition of specific individuals to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List. These designations are made under Executive Order 14059, concerning the global illicit drug trade, and Executive Order 13224, related to terrorism. The individuals named, including Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez and Juan Jose Farias Alvarez, are linked to Carteles Unidos and face blocking sanctions, meaning all their property and interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

This action requires immediate attention from compliance officers. Regulated entities, particularly those in financial services, import/export, and any sector that might interact with individuals or entities involved in illicit drug trafficking or terrorism financing, must review their client lists and transaction monitoring systems to ensure compliance with the updated SDN list. Failure to comply with sanctions programs can result in significant penalties, including fines and reputational damage. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned beyond the effective date of the action, entities should immediately update their internal controls and screening processes.

What to do next

Review and update internal screening lists against the newly added SDN List entries.
Assess existing relationships and transactions for potential matches with designated individuals.
Implement enhanced due diligence for any parties linked to the named individuals or associated organizations.

Penalties

All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Penalties for non-compliance with OFAC sanctions can be severe, including civil penalties.

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing the names of one or more persons
that have been placed on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) based on OFAC's determination
that one or more applicable legal criteria were satisfied. All property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction
of these persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

DATES:

This action was issued on August 14, 2025. See
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for relevant dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

OFAC: Associate Director for Global Targeting, 202-622-2420; Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance, 202-622-2490; or https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Availability

The SDN List and additional information concerning OFAC sanctions programs are available on OFAC's website: https://ofac.treasury.gov.

Notice of OFAC Action

On August 14, 2025, OFAC determined that one or more persons identified below meet one or more of the criteria for the imposition
of sanctions set forth in section 1(a)-(c) of Executive Order 14059 of December 15, 2021, “Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons
Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade,” 86 FR 71549 (E.O. 14059). OFAC has selected to impose blocking sanctions pursuant
to section 2(a)(i) of E.O. 14059 on the persons identified below.

OFAC further determined that one or more persons identified below meet one or more of the criteria for designation pursuant
to Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten
to Commit, or Support Terrorism,” 66 FR 49079, as amended by Executive Order 13886 of September 9, 2019, “Modernizing Sanctions
To Combat Terrorism,” 84 FR 48041 (E.O. 13224, as amended).

As a result, the property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of the following persons are blocked under
the relevant sanctions authorities listed below.

Individuals

BARRAGAN CHAVEZ, Luis Enrique (a.k.a. “El R5”; a.k.a. “Guicho”; a.k.a. “Guicho de Los Reyes”; a.k.a. “Wicho”; a.k.a. “Wicho de Los Reyes”), Mexico; DOB 10 Nov 1986; POB Jalisco, Mexico; nationality Mexico; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; C.U.R.P. BACL861110HJCRHS06 (Mexico) (individual) [SDGT] ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059.

Designated pursuant to section 1(b)(iii) of E.O. 14059 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported
to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Carteles Unidos, a person sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 14059.

Designated pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(A) of E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having
acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Carteles Unidos, a person sanctioned pursuant to E.O.
13224, as amended.

FARIAS ALVAREZ, Juan Jose (a.k.a. “El Abuelo”), Mexico; DOB 10 Aug 1970; POB Tepalcatepec, Michoacan, Mexico; nationality Mexico; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; C.U.R.P. FAAJ700810HMNRLN16 (Mexico) (individual) [SDGT] ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059.

FERNANDEZ MAGALLON, Alfonso (a.k.a. “Poncho”; a.k.a. “Poncho La Quiringua”), Los Reyes, Michoacan, Mexico; DOB 09 Apr 1970; POB Jalisco, Mexico; nationality Mexico; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886 (individual) [SDGT] ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059.

OROZCO CABADAS, Edgar Valeriano (a.k.a. CABADAS TORRES, Edgar; a.k.a. “El 50”; a.k.a. “El Kamoni”), Mexico; DOB 21 Oct 1985; POB Michoacan, Mexico; nationality Mexico; Gender Male; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; C.U.R.P. OOCE851021HMNRBD04 (Mexico) (individual) [SDGT] ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059.

CISNEROS FLORES, Heladio (a.k.a. “La Sirena”), Mexico; DOB 21 Feb 1986; POB Michoacan, Mexico; nationality Mexico; Gender Male; C.U.R.P. CIFH860221HMNSLL02 (Mexico) (individual) ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059.

Designated pursuant to section 1(b)(ii) of E.O. 14059 for being or having been a leader or official of Los Viagras, a person
sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 14059.

SEPULVEDA ARELLANO, Cesar Alejandro (a.k.a. “El Boto”; a.k.a. “El Botox”), Mexico; DOB 26 Nov 1982; POB Michoacan, Mexico; nationality Mexico; Gender Male; C.U.R.P. SEAC821126HMNPRS08 (Mexico) (individual) ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059.

Designated pursuant to section 1(b)(ii) of E.O. 14059 for being or having been a leader or official of Los Viagras, a person
sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 14059.

SIERRA SANTANA, Nicolas (a.k.a. “El Coruco”; a.k.a. “El Gordo”), Mexico; DOB 10 Sep 1977; POB Michoacan, Mexico; nationality Mexico; Gender Male; C.U.R.P. SISN770910HMNRNC09 (Mexico) (individual) ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059.

Designated pursuant to section 1(b)(ii) of E.O. 14059 for being or having been a leader or official of Los Viagras, a person
sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 14059.

Entities

CARTELES UNIDOS (a.k.a. CARTEL DE TEPALCATEPEC; a.k.a. TEPALCATEPEC CARTEL; a.k.a. “CARTEL DE LOS REYES”; a.k.a. “CARTEL DEL ABUELO”; a.k.a. “THE GRANDFATHER CARTEL”; a.k.a. “UNITED CARTELS”), Mexico; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Organization Type: Transnational Terrorist Group ; Target Type Criminal Organization [FTO] [SDGT] [ILLICIT-DRUGS-EO14059].

Designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions
that have materially contributed to or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation
of illicit drugs or their means of production.