The US government on Wednesday implemented economic sanctions against one of the top commanders of the “Los Rastrojos,” an international narcotrafficking group based in Colombia.
Diego Perez Hanao, alias “Diego Rastrojo,” stands accused of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine in the United States. The Treasury Department prohibited US citizens and entities from making transactions with the affected individuals and entities, and froze all assets within US jurisdiction.
Perez Hanao was arrested in June of 2012 in Venezuela and was subsequently extradited to Colombia.
BACKGROUND: Top ‘Rastrojos’ leader arrested in Venezuela
Los Rastrojos are considered Colombia’s largest drug trafficking organization and also operate in Venezuela and Ecuador.
PROFILE: Rastrojos
“To attack this violent criminal organization that operates in three countries we are taking steps to expose and undermine its operations,” said Adam Szubin, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the Treasury.
