Trump administration imposes sanctions on six individuals behind sophisticated “narco-sub” cocaine trafficking network spanning the Americas, Europe, and Caribbean.
At a Glance
- Six individuals, including four Guyanese and two Colombian nationals, sanctioned for using submarine-like vessels to transport cocaine
- Network includes a corrupt Guyanese law enforcement official and a former police officer, highlighting criminal infiltration of authorities
- U.S. and Guyanese authorities have made significant cocaine seizures, including operations confiscating 2,370 kilograms in March
- Sanctions freeze all U.S.-based assets of these individuals, crippling their financial operations
- Action aligns with Trump administration’s broader strategy to combat drug cartels at their source
Dismantling Sophisticated Maritime Drug Trafficking
The Trump administration has taken decisive action against an international cocaine trafficking network by sanctioning six individuals who utilized specialized “narco-submarines” to smuggle drugs. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated four Guyanese nationals and two Colombian nationals for their roles in trafficking cocaine to the United States, Europe, and Caribbean nations. These individuals operated sophisticated maritime vessels designed to evade detection while transporting large quantities of narcotics across international waters.
Among those sanctioned are Colombian nationals Manuel Salazar Guiterrez and Yeison Andres Sanchez Vallejo, along with Guyanese nationals Randolph Duncan, Himnauth Sawh, Mark Cromwell, and Paul Daby Jr. The Treasury Department specifically identified Sawh as a “corrupt” law enforcement official who provided protection for Colombian and Venezuelan traffickers. Cromwell, a former member of the Guyana Police Force associated with Daby Jr., is currently wanted in connection with a 2024 abduction case, demonstrating the network’s violent criminal activities beyond drug trafficking.
Criminal Operations and Enforcement Success
Guyana has increasingly become a key transshipment point for cocaine moving from South America to North American markets. Paul Daby Jr. and Randolph Duncan operate major drug trafficking organizations in the country, utilizing both maritime vessels and aircraft for their smuggling operations. These criminal networks have established sophisticated transportation infrastructure, including the narco-submarines that allow them to move cocaine shipments with minimal detection risk across vast distances.
“The cartels are waging war on America, and it’s time for America to wage war on the cartels.”, said President Donald Trump.
Law enforcement efforts have yielded significant results against these operations. Joint U.S. and Guyanese operations in March resulted in the seizure of 182 kilograms of cocaine in one operation and an additional 2,370 kilograms in another. In a particularly telling discovery, authorities found cocaine packages marked with the Sinaloa Cartel’s distinctive Toyota logo on a cargo vessel, confirming links between these traffickers and Mexican cartels operating in the region. These successful interdictions represent major disruptions to the trafficking network’s operations.
Broader Strategy Against Cartel Operations
The sanctions effectively block all property and interests belonging to the designated individuals within U.S. jurisdiction. Additionally, any entities owned 50% or more by these individuals are also blocked, creating significant financial obstacles for their criminal enterprises. Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender emphasized the administration’s commitment to dismantling these networks, noting that these actions target not just the flow of drugs but the financial infrastructure supporting them.
“Chaos happens when the perception of American strength is not complete. And so, we aim to reestablish that deterrence, and it starts with our own southern border. It starts with the defense of our homeland.”, said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
These actions align with the Trump administration’s broader strategy of confronting drug cartels through multiple avenues. The administration previously designated eight Latin American cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), granting access to enhanced counterterrorism authorities. This multi-faceted approach includes strengthened border enforcement, international cooperation with partners like Guyana, and targeted sanctions against key individuals in trafficking networks. The focus remains on addressing the problem at its source rather than merely responding to drugs once they reach American shores.
