On January 26, the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on former Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes and current Paraguayan Vice President Hugo Velazquez. These sanctions require compliance from all U.S. persons, including citizens and legal permanent residents, regardless of their location.
The sanctions prohibit engagement in transactions or support for any individual or entity listed on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List. Failure to comply can result in civil and criminal penalties. The businesses affected by these sanctions include Tabacos USA Inc., Bebidas USA Inc., Dominicana Acquisition S.A., and Frigorifico Chajha S.A.E. Entities owned or controlled by blocked individuals, directly or indirectly, at 50% or more are also subject to these restrictions.
For additional information, individuals are encouraged to consult the Department of Treasury’s press release. Questions regarding the sanctions can be directed to the Office of Foreign Assets Control via email at ofac_feedback@treasury.gov.
Contact numbers for further assistance include a toll-free hotline at 1-800-540-6322, a local hotline at 1-202-622-2490, and the OFAC Licensing Division direct line at 1-202-622-2480.