WASHINGTON. The US Department of the Treasury informed today that Griselda López Pérez, the second wife of Mexican drug lord Joaquín "Chapo" Guzmán has been included in their "black list" for her participation in the drug cartel.

The Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Adam J. Szubin, stated through a press release that this is "the third time in the last five months" his office acts against family members acting on behalf of the "Chapo" Guzmán as part of their drug dealing strategy.

The OFAC decided to include López Pérez in their narcotics list due to "her role in the drug trafficking operations of the group" and for helping "El Chapo" Guzmán "to evade justice."

US authorities detailed that López Pérez "provides material support to her husband's trafficking activities," who in turn was blacklisted in 2001 in accordance with the federal law against drug traffic.

Since June of 2000, the OFAC has listed over 1,100 businesses and individuals linked to 97 international drug lords.

Sanctions for violating the law against drug traffic include civil penalties of up to $1,075 million dollars per violation and even higher amounts for criminal charges.

With this addition, a federal law forbids US citizens from holding financial or commercial transactions with individuals designated as drug dealers as well as granting authorization to freeze the assets that citizen could possess in the country.

editorial@sandiegored.com

Original Text : EFE Agency

Translation: Karen.balderas@sandiegored.com