US Treasury sanctions Colombian narcotics trafficker

WASHINGTON -- US Department of the Treasury on Thursday imposed sanction on a Colombian national Pedro Luis Zuleta Noscue identified as a significant narcotics trafficker for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla group.

In a statement, the Treasury said that four additional Colombian nationals were also designated for their involvement in narcotics trafficking activities of Pedro Luis Zuleta Noscue.

As a result of the sanction, "all assets in which these persons have an interest in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be blocked and reported" to the Treasury.

"As Pedro Luis Zuleta Noscue continues to supply narcotics to criminal groups such as Colombia's La Oficina de Envigado, which rely on the sale of these illicit drugs as the financial bedrock of their criminal activities, we remain committed to targeting their financial networks," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker.

Zuleta Noscue was accused of having long controlled a narcotics trafficking corridor in and around the area of Corinto in Colombia, where he has also financially supported FARC-led narcotics trafficking activities.

The Treasury said the drug laboratories controlled by Zuleta Noscue in Colombia are "responsible for producing ton quantities of cocaine, as well as smaller quantities of heroin, on a monthly basis for international narcotics markets."

Under former President Juan Manuel Santos, the Colombian government signed a peace deal with the FARC, the country's largest rebel group, putting an end to more than five decades of armed conflicts in the country.

Following the peace deal with the FARC, the Colombian government also started negotiations with the country's second-largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN).

However, the talks were halted by Colombian President Ivan Duque, who was sworn in in August. He said earlier that peace talks with the ELN guerrillas will remain suspended until the rebels stop fighting.

On Oct 11, the United Nations Security Council reiterated its "full and unanimous support" for the peace process in Colombia.