US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified Guatemalan mayor Erik Salvador Suñiga Rodriguez and the Suñiga Rodriguez drug trafficking organization as significant foreign narcotics traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. OFAC also designated four other Guatemalan nationals for providing material support to Rodriguez and his organization.
Per OFAC, Rodriguez controls narcotics trafficking near the Guatemalan-Mexico border by utilizing corrupt local law enforcement officials. Rodriguez’s key drug trafficking associates are Wildin Tulio Jui Escobar, Juan Carlos Cruz Ovalle, his brother Jose Juan Suñiga Rodriguez, and his half-brother Alex Oswaldo Parada Rodriguez. As part of this action, OFAC also designated five entities that are owned or controlled by Rodriguez’s drug-trafficking associates. The designated entities are Multiservicios y Finca El Encanto, Rancho La Dorada, Cevicheria La Concha, Star Market Melanye, and JC Car Audio.
Since June 2000, more than 2,200 entities and individuals have been identified as significant foreign narcotics traffickers pursuant to the Kingpin Act. As a result of the designation, all assets which these individuals have an interest in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by US persons that involve any property of blocked persons.