U.S. slaps sanctions on Mexican national, entities for ties to drug trafficking

U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday announced its decision to impose sanctions on a Mexican national and four entities, including two newspapers, for ties to drug trafficking.

In a statement, the Treasury Department accused Naim Libien Tella of providing support to the drug trafficking activities of the Los Cuinis Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) and its leader, Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, both of which were designated earlier this year.

The entities designated Wednesday, including the Mexico City-based newspaper Unomasuno, were also accused of having provided support to the drug trafficking activities of the Los Cuinis DTO, or believed to be owned or controlled by Gonzalez Valencia and/or Libien Tella, the statement said.

The other companies sanctioned are Toluca-based businesses Diario Amanecer, a Mexican newspaper, and Aerolineas Amanecer, an air taxi company. Both entities are related to Libien Tella.

As a result of the action, any assets these designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

"Today's action demonstrates that Treasury, along with its partners in DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and the Mexican government, will continue to expose and target those who support narcotics traffickers," said John Smith, acting Director of Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Endit