US Sanctions: Chapo's Brother-in-Law Sanctioned for Drug Trafficking

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The US sanctions Chapo’s brother-in-law, Noel Lopez Perez, and one of Chapo’s nephews named Ricardo Paez Lopez.

The Latest Sanctions

The US Treasury Department – OFAC just announced their new counter narcotics sanctions today, on July 12, 2023.

The press release for the new sanctions reads as follows:

 

Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 10 individuals, including several Sinaloa Cartel members and fugitives, as well as one Mexico-based entity, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059.

 

Those sanctioned today are associated with Sinaloa, Mexico-based precursor chemical suppliers and brothers Ludim and Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma and ultimately operate under the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Responsible for a significant portion of the illicit fentanyl and other deadly drugs trafficked into the United States, the Sinaloa Cartel is one of the most powerful and pervasive drug trafficking organizations in the world.   

 

[…]

Today, OFAC designated Noel Lopez Perez and Ricardo Paez Lopez, both Mexican nationals, who are involved in drug trafficking and transportation, precursor chemical sales, overseeing illicit drug laboratories, cross-border tunnels, and enforcement operations for Los Chapitos.

 

As a sibling of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera’s second wife, Griselda Lopez Perez, Noel Lopez Perez is a brother-in-law of Guzman Loera and therefore an uncle to Ovidio and Joaquin Guzman Lopez.

 

Additionally, Ricardo Paez Lopez and his brother, Saul Paez Lopez, are maternal cousins of the Guzman Lopez brothers. OFAC designated Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Saul Paez Lopez in May of this year pursuant to E.O. 14059.   

Further, today OFAC designated Mexican nationals Dora Vanessa Valdez Fernandez, who purchases precursor chemicals from Ludim Zamudio Lerma; Nestor Isidro Perez Salas (a.k.a. “Nini”) and Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez (a.k.a. “Panu”), fentanyl traffickers and violent enforcers for Los Chapitos; and Jeuri Limon Elenes, a methamphetamine trafficker and a brother-in-law of the Paez Lopez brothers, Ricardo and Saul.   

OFAC designated Noel Lopez Perez, Ricardo Paez Lopez, Dora Vanessa Valdez Fernandez, Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez, and Jeuri Limon Elenes pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.  

Also today, OFAC designated import/export company REI Compania Internacional, S.A. de C.V. (REI Compania Internacional) pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.

 

Based in Metepec, Estado de Mexico, REI Compania Internacional regularly receives chemical shipments from exporters in the People’s Republic of China. OFAC concurrently designated the company’s majority shareholder, Eliseo de Leon Becerra, for being a leader or official of REI Compania Internacional.  

Additionally, OFAC designated three siblings of Ludim and Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma today for their association with Aceros y Refacciones del Humaya, S.A. de C.V. (Aceros y Refacciones del Humaya), which OFAC designated in February of this year pursuant to E.O. 14059. Specifically, OFAC designated Mexican nationals Angel Guillermo Zamudio Lerma, Daniel Zamudio Lerma, and Jorge Alberto Zamudio Lerma for being or having been leaders or officials of Aceros y Refacciones del Humaya. In addition to each owning shares of Aceros y Refacciones del Humaya, each of the siblings maintains a position related to the company’s administration.

 

[…]

Among other charges, Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez and Jeuri Limon Elenes were indicted on drug trafficking charges related to methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in April 2015 and April 2017, respectively.

 

In February 2021, Nestor Isidro Perez Salas was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on drug trafficking charges related to methamphetamine and cocaine and, among other charges, conspiracy to retaliate against a witness. Additionally, Perez Salas and Medina Gonzalez were indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in April 2023. Medina Gonzalez, Limon Elenes, and Perez Salas are fugitives. Moreover, in April 2023, the Department of State issued reward offers for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez and Nestor Isidro Perez Salas. 

 

Quick Summary

 

 

Noel Lopez Perez

-Brother-in-law of Chapo

-Ovidio and Joaquin’s uncle

-“Involved in drug trafficking and transportation, precursor chemical sales, overseeing illicit drug laboratories, cross-border tunnels, and enforcement operations for Los Chapitos”

Ricardo Paez Lopez

-Cousin of Ovidio and Joaquin

-Brother of Saul Paez Lopez, who was previously sanctioned

-“Involved in drug trafficking and transportation, precursor chemical sales, overseeing illicit drug laboratories, cross-border tunnels, and enforcement operations for Los Chapitos”

Jeuri Limon Elenes

-Brother-in-law of Ricardo and Saul Paez Lopez

- “A methamphetamine trafficker”

 

Dora Vanessa Valdez Fernandez

Purchaser of precursor chemicals from Ludim Zamudio Lerma

 

Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, alias “El Nini”

-“Fentanyl trafficker and violent enforcer for Los Chapitos”

 

Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez, alias “El Panu”

-“Fentanyl trafficker and violent enforcer for Los Chapitos”

Angel Guillermo Zamudio Lerma, Daniel Zamudio Lerma, and Jorge Alberto Zamudio Lerma

-All brothers of the previously sanctioned Ludim and Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma brothers

- “For being or having been leaders or officials of Aceros y Refacciones del Humaya” (Which was sanctioned in Wednesday

 

 

 

To read any of the three documents released, please click below: 

The Press Release

The Chart

The Specifics