No one is above the law – even leaders of foreign nations, and this has never been more apparent as we’ve all seen a global increase in the prosecution of political figures. Just recently, the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) put the former vice president of Venezuela, Tareck El Aissami, on their Most Wanted List.

According to reports, the former leader worked alongside Venezuelan businessman Samark Jose Lopez Bello to traffic narcotics internationally and launder money.

El Aissami was formerly appointed the vice president of Venezuela in 2017 after serving as governor since 2012. Before that, he served as Venezuela’s minister of interior and justice since 2008. Reportedly, throughout his entire duration as having political power, he was simultaneously facilitating shipments of narcotics from Venezuela. Many of those shipments went directly to Mexico, while others came to the United States.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York’s El Dorado Financial Crimes Task Force Unit conducted a lengthy investigation into the source of narcotics in the area, and they identified both El Aissami and Lopez Bello as primary sources of the drug. As a result, they were both charged on March 8th with violating the Kingpin Act.

The OFAC put sanctions on these two individuals, but they both worked together to evade the restrictions. As a result, the OFAC and HSI are diligently investigating financial transactions to identify who was conspiring and aiding the corrupt Venezuelan regime. Prosecutors hope to charge and arrest anyone who is found to have aided El Aissami or Lopez Bello in their narcotics efforts.

The El Dorado HSI unit is reportedly one of the best financial enforcement and investigative task forces in the world. These special agents, intelligence analysts, and task force officers work together to identify, disrupt, and destroy all transnational criminal financial networks they come across by cutting off access to U.S. financial systems. They do this through the issuance of criminal charges, seizing crucial assets, and indictments. They also work alongside groups like OFAC, FinCEN, the U.S. Department of State and Defense, and foreign law enforcement agencies around the globe.

Are You in Compliance With International Law?

You’d think that complying with the law would be pretty straightforward, but in 2024, you have to be extra cautious about who you do business with. Violating OFAC sanctions by conducting business with a sanctioned individual is likely to completely derail your entire business. For one, you will face criminal charges. A conviction will result in fines that could exceed millions of dollars and a prison term of up to 20 years. For another, your brand’s reputation will be dismantled.

Unfortunately, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to discern who might be sanctioned and who might not be. One of the best ways to ensure that you’re complying with all the laws in your area and wherever you’re conducting business is to consult with an international attorney.

Schedule a free consultation with our international team of lawyers now to get in touch about your legal concerns today.