BajaNews - 10-27-2011 at 07:38 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/us-sanctions-ow...
October 27, 2011
MEXICO CITY — The U.S. Treasury Department is imposing sanctions on the owner of a Mexican racetrack and car dealership for alleged involvement with
the Sinaloa drug cartel.
The Treasury Department says it has designated Martin Guadencio Avendano and his two brothers as foreign drug traffickers under the Kingpin Act. That
prohibits people in the U.S. from conducting businesses with them and freezes their U.S. assets.
The department said Thursday that 42-year-old Avendano launders money for the cartel’s co-leader, Ismael Zambada. The other leader is Joaquin Guzman,
known as “El Chapo.” Both are fugitive.
Treasury says Avendano has a car dealership in Ensenada and a racetrack in Culiacan. There was no response to an email sent to the track.
Woooosh - 10-27-2011 at 09:40 PM
"The department said Thursday that 42-year-old Avendano launders money for the cartel’s co-leader, Ismael Zambada. The other leader is Joaquin Guzman,
known as “El Chapo.” Both are fugitive."
You have to be as far away as the Washington Post to mention the connection between a Baja car dealer and the head of the Sinaloa cartel. No one local
would dare call him out by name. There is a truce taking place I do believe- so the big guys are only in danger from the taxman- and a less-violent
baja will return. It does depend on the 2012 election though (the Mexican one). jmho
[Edited on 10-28-2011 by Woooosh]
More info
bajaguy - 10-28-2011 at 08:28 AM
Translation from Ensenada.net
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A business of Ensenada called Mini cars, was included by the Department of the Treasury of the United States among the companies linked to the money
laundering and trafficking of cocaine for the Sinaloa cartel.
In a document published by the Office of Control of goods foreigners (OFAC) of the Department of the Treasury of United States prohibited Americans
from any financial or commercial transaction with those designated and freeze assets that can possess United States jurisdiction.
Those designated by OFAC are the brothers Martin Guadencio, Sergio and Héctor Manuel Avendano Ojeda, the first according to this document is
Lieutenant of the Sinaloa Cartel, his two brothers, and two companies in Mexico.
This designation is carried out in accordance with the foreign drug kingpin designation Act (known as Kingpin Act),
Martín Guadencio Avendano Ojeda controls a network of money laundering and distribution of narcotics headquartered in Culiacán, Sinaloa, supplied by
the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael Zambada García.
Ismael Zambada García and the Sinaloa Cartel were previously identified by the President of USA as drug traffickers specially designated (SDNT) under
the Kingpin act in 2002 and 2009, respectively.
According to this report Martín Avedano Ojeda facilitates the import of narcotics of Mexico to the U.S. with the help of his brothers, Héctor Manuel
and Sergio Avendano Ojeda, who are also currently being designated.
Also identified today will be companies cars Mini, a dealership of automobiles in Ensenada, Baja California, and Autodromo Culiacán, a car racing
track located in Culiacán, Sinaloa because they are owned by one or more of the brothers Avendano Ojeda.
According to this report: "today's action is intended to disrupt the ability of the network of Martin Avendano Ojeda distribution of drugs and their
business of money-laundering that generates funds for the Sinaloa Cartel", said Adam Szubin OFAC director.
"These actions are part of the continuing efforts of the Department of Treasury that identifying and disrupting the financial pathways exploited by
this poster and his lieutenants".
Today's action would not have been possible without the support of the Administration for the Control of drugs (DEA) and the service of internal
revenue (IRS). This designation represents the latest effort by OFAC to apply financial pressure to Mexican drug trafficking organizations and
prosecute those who benefit from drug trafficking.
At the international level, OFAC has designated more than 1,000 entities and 94 individuals linked to the drug kingpins since June 2000. Violations of
the Kingpin Act can be punished with fines of up to 1,075 million dollars for each violation and criminal penalties. The punishment for the management
of enterprises can be from 30 years in prison and fines up to $ 5 million.
Criminal penalties for the companies can reach $ 10 million. Other individuals can face up to 10 years in prison for violations to the law on foreign
ringleaders and fines according to the 18 title of the code of United States.
Phil S - 10-28-2011 at 09:01 AM
This will represent maybe a hole the size of a b b in the cartels income. There are so many ways to laundry money in Mexico. However. It's also a
step in the right direction. Though I dough in my lifetime (77 years) I'll see much of a change in Mexico's drug problem. I don't see political
changes making any difference either. It's a cultural problem.