U.S. slaps sanctions on Colombian cocaine trafficking network

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that it has imposed sanctions on a Colombian cocaine trafficking network which was playing a "significant role" in international narcotics trafficking.

"Treasury is targeting drug kingpin Ruano Yandun and his criminal organization, as they continue to smuggle and distribute tons of cocaine from Colombia through Central America and into our communities," John Smith, director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in a statement released in the day.

The sanction also targeted another Colombian national who was seen as acting on behalf of Yandun.

The sanctions will "send a strong message to Ruano Yandun and other criminals who export poison and violence across our borders that we intend to target and dismantle these illicit networks," Smith added.

The sanctions would freeze assets of blacklisted persons or entity under U.S. jurisdiction and ban any U.S. individuals or companies from making business deals with them. Enditem