Background on Key Players and Relevance
The United States has recently sanctioned six individuals involved in the trafficking of tonnes of cocaine from South America to various regions, including the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. These operations allegedly took place through Guyana using narco-submarines and airplanes. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted Colombian nationals Yeison Andrés Sánchez Vallejo and Manuel Salazar Gutiérrez, as well as four Guyanese individuals: Paul Daby Jr., Randolph Duncan, Mark Cromwell, and Himnauth Sawh.
Guyana has long been recognized as a significant drug transit point, with Mexican cartels operating in the region. Its proximity to the Caribbean and alleged corruption within its ports and borders facilitate undetected drug transportation via airplanes and narco-submarines. The region’s rivers and forests are exploited to move large quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela through Guyana and Suriname.
Sanctioned Individuals and Their Roles
- Yeison Andrés Sánchez Vallejo and Manuel Salazar Gutiérrez (Colombian nationals): Accused of overseeing clandestine airstrips used to transport tonnes of cocaine from Colombia to Guyana.
- Paul Daby Jr. and Randolph Duncan (Guyanese nationals): Members of Guyana’s primary drug trafficking network.
- Mark Cromwell (former police officer): Involved in facilitating drug trafficking operations.
- Himnauth Sawh: Ensured safe passage for Colombian and Venezuelan drug traffickers.
Impact of Sanctions
As a result of these sanctions, any assets or interests held by the sanctioned individuals within the US or under the control of US persons are now frozen. This action aims to disrupt their illicit activities and demonstrate the US commitment to combating drug trafficking on a global scale.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was sanctioned? The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six individuals: two Colombians (Yeison Andrés Sánchez Vallejo and Manuel Salazar Gutiérrez) and four Guyanese (Paul Daby Jr., Randolph Duncan, Mark Cromwell, and Himnauth Sawh).
- Why were these individuals sanctioned? They are accused of trafficking tonnes of cocaine from South America to various regions, including the US, Europe, and the Caribbean, using narco-submarines and airplanes through Guyana.
- What are the consequences of these sanctions? All assets and interests held by the sanctioned individuals within the US or under the control of US persons are now frozen.
- Why is Guyana significant in this case? Guyana’s proximity to the Caribbean and alleged corruption within its ports and borders facilitate undetected drug transportation via airplanes and narco-submarines.
