Financial Crime in the Dominican Republic: US Sanctions Key Player

A Blow to International Drug Trafficking

The United States Treasury Department has taken a significant step in disrupting the flow of illicit narcotics into the country by sanctioning Jose Calderon Rijo, a high-ranking member of one of the Dominican Republic’s most powerful criminal organizations.

Background on Jose Calderon Rijo

• Known as “La Araña,” Calderon Rijo led a sprawling network that controlled several major routes for smuggling cocaine and other drugs into the US from the Caribbean region.
• Despite being imprisoned in 2012 on drug trafficking charges, he continued to oversee his organization’s operations while serving time.

The Impact of Sanctions

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Calderon Rijo under Executive Order 14059 for his involvement in activities that “materially contributed” to the international proliferation of illicit drugs. This designation:

• Blocks any assets he may have in the United States or in the possession of American individuals and entities.
• Prohibits any dealings with Calderon Rijo or his organization by American individuals or entities.

The Broader Effort Against International Drug Trafficking

The designation is part of a broader US effort to combat international drug trafficking, which causes tens of thousands of overdose deaths and countless more non-fatal overdoses annually in the United States.