Financial Crime World

Major Drug Trafficker in Dominican Republic Sanctioned by U.S. Treasury Department

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Jose Calderon Rijo (a.k.a. “La Araña”), a Dominican national, as a significant drug trafficker. Calderon Rijo leads a criminal organization responsible for several drug trafficking routes into the United States, making it one of the most prolific in the Caribbean.

Criminal Activities of Calderon Rijo’s Organization

  • Drug trafficking
  • Money laundering
  • Public corruption

Calderon Rijo’s organization poses a major threat to the Caribbean region and the United States.

Arrest and Continued Leadership of Criminal Organization

  • Arrested in 2012: Calderon Rijo was arrested and charged with drug trafficking offenses in the Dominican Republic.
  • Prison Sentence: Despite serving a three-year prison sentence, he allegedly continued to oversee his criminal organization.
  • U.S. Indictment: In September 2022, a federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment charging Calderon Rijo with multiple drug trafficking offenses.

Sanctions by the Treasury Department

The U.S. sanctions against Calderon Rijo aim to block and report all his property and interests in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons. Any entities owned, directly or indirectly, by more than 50 percent by the blocked person are also subject to sanctions.

Prohibited Dealings

OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States involving any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

Whole-of-Government Effort

The U.S. sanctions against Calderon Rijo are a part of a whole-of-government effort to counter the global threat posed by the trafficking of illicit drugs into the United States. OFAC, in collaboration with its US government partners and foreign counterparts, will continue to identify and target foreign illicit drug actors for sanctions.

Process for Seeking Removal

According to the OFAC, the ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish but to bring about a positive change in behavior. To learn more about the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), visit the OFAC’s frequently asked question 897. To submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please visit their website.

Assistance in Designation

Calderon Rijo’s designation was made possible with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division, the DEA Santo Domingo Country Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.