Treasury hopes to disrupt drug kingpin

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Treasury Department has taken action it said should disrupt the financial network of Medellin, Colombia, drug lord Carlos Mario Jimenez Naranjo.

The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control declared Naranjo, aka Macaco, a "specially designated narcotics trafficker" and targeted seven companies and several individuals as well, the department said Tuesday.

"Jimenez Naranjo is among the most dangerous Colombian narcotics traffickers today," said OFAC Director Adam Szubin. "(Tuesday's) designation serves notice to Macaco and his associates that the United States is committed to disrupting their network of illicitly obtained assets in Medellin and elsewhere."

Jimenez Naranjo was indicted on federal drug trafficking charges in 2005 and in 2007. He is in Colombian custody awaiting extradition to the United States.

The OFAC designation freezes any assets the designees may have that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and bars financial and commercial transactions by any U.S. person with the designated companies and individuals.

Among the designated individuals were Rosa Edelmira Luna Cordoba, Jimenez Naranjo's wife; and Marco Julio Londono Vasquez. The two fronted companies owned or controlled by Jimenez Naranjo, the department said.

The seven designated companies are located in or around Medellin.