OFAC Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions
OFAC Counter Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions is a sanctions program maintained by Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). It imposes asset freeze, financial restrictions and trade restrictions.
Last updated 3 Aug 2026
Overview
Sanctions program targeting foreign persons involved in the global illicit drug trade, including significant narcotics traffickers and drug trafficking organizations. Implements blocking sanctions on designated individuals and entities involved in the proliferation of illicit drugs, including cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and their support networks.
Legal bases
- Executive Order 14157 - Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (January 20, 2025)
- Executive Order 14059 - Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade (December 15, 2021)
- Executive Order 12978 - Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers (October 22, 1995)
- Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, Pub. L. 114-198 § 801, 130 Stat. 755 (Jul. 22, 2016)
- Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 1901-1908
- Fentanyl Sanctions Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 1790-1064
- International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706
- National Emergencies Act (NEA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1651
- 31 CFR Part 599 - Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations
- 31 CFR Part 598 - Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations
- 31 CFR Part 536 - Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions Regulations
Official resources
Identification of Jasmeet Hakimzada (February 20, 2019)
Identification of Rincon Castillo Drug Trafficking Organization (June 05, 2018)
Identification of Jian Zhang Drug Trafficking Organization (April 27, 2018)
Identification of Kassem Chams (April 11, 2019)
Identification of Pedro Luis Zuleta Noscue Drug Trafficking Organization (October 18, 2018)
Identification of Pedro Luis Martin Olivares (May 07, 2018)
Identification of Jose Luis Ruelas Torres and the Ruelas Torres Drug Trafficking Organization (May 24, 2017)
OFAC Alert: International Cartels Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (March 18, 2025)
OFAC Alert: Timeshare Fraud (March 02, 2023)
Guidance on the Provision of Certain Services Relating to the Requirements of U.S. Sanctions Laws (January 12, 2017)
Impact Report on Economic Sanctions Against Colombian Drug Cartels (March 2007)
87 FR 73647 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General License 1A and Subsequent Iterations
87 FR 73637 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General Licenses 2, 3, 3A, and 3B
80 FR 74835 - Publication of a General License Related to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Program
Identification of Kassem Chams (April 11, 2019)
Identification of Shining Path (Peru) (June 01, 2015)
Statement on the Felix Maduro Group (June 01, 2016)
OFAC Frequently Asked Questions
87 FR 77711 - Publication of Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations
Overview of Sanctions - Sanctions Brochures
Questions Related to Entities Owned by Persons Whose Property and Interests in Property are Blocked (50% Rule)
Index of Interpretative Guidance
Entities Owned by Blocked Persons - Guidance on Entities Owned by Persons Whose Property and Interests in Property Are Blocked
Questions about Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List
Licenses for Legal Fees and Costs - Guidance on the Release of Limited Amounts of Blocked Funds for Payment of Legal Fees and Costs
EO 14157 - Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (January 20, 2025)
EO 12978 - Blocking Assets and Prohibiting Transactions With Significant Narcotics Traffickers (October 22, 1995)
Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 1901-1908
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706
31 CFR Part 599 - Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations
31 CFR Part 536 - Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions Regulations
87 FR 78470 - Publication of United States Government and International Organizations Official Business Sanctions Regulations Amendment and General Licenses
87 FR 73639 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General License 4
91 FR 24722 - Publication of a Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations and Illicit Drug Trade Sanctions Regulations Web General License
86 FR 26661 - Amendments to the Narcotics Trafficking Sanctions Regulations and Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations
EO 14059 - Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade (December 15, 2021)
Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, Pub. L. 114-198 § 801
Fentanyl Sanctions Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 1790-1064
National Emergencies Act (NEA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1651
31 CFR Part 598 - Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations
87 FR 78484 - Publication of Humanitarian Sanctions Regulations Amendment and General Licenses
87 FR 73643 - Publication of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations Web General Licenses 5, 6, and 7
80 FR 29201 - Delegation of Functions Under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
78 FR 33943 - Delegation of Functions Under Subsection 804(h)(2)(A) of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
68 FR 61359 - Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations; Iraqi Sanctions Regulations; Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations; Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations
Identification of Pedro Luis Zuleta Noscue Drug Trafficking Organization (October 18, 2018)
Identification of Pedro Luis Martin Olivares (May 07, 2018)
Identification of Jose Luis Ruelas Torres and the Ruelas Torres Drug Trafficking Organization (May 24, 2017)
Identification of Ali Khatib Haji Hassan and the Hassan Drug Trafficking Organization (March 09, 2016)
71 FR 29251 - Revisions to IEEPA made by the Combating Terrorism Financing Act of 2005
Identification of Jasmeet Hakimzada (February 20, 2019)
Identification of Rincon Castillo Drug Trafficking Organization (June 05, 2018)
Identification of Jian Zhang Drug Trafficking Organization (April 27, 2018)
Identification of Raul Flores Hernandez and the Flores Drug Trafficking Organization (August 09, 2017)