Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade

Dec 17, 2021

Summary

Allows the U.S. to punish foreign people involved in the worldwide illegal drug trade by blocking their money, property, and entry into the country.

What problem does this solve?

Illegal drugs trafficked from other countries are causing tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year. This order creates a way to punish the foreign people and groups responsible by cutting off their access to the U.S. financial system and blocking them from entering the country.

What does this order do?

Declares a national emergency

States that international drug trafficking is an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.

Authorizes sanctions on foreign persons

Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to punish any foreign person or group involved in the international spread of illegal drugs or their production.

Blocks property and financial assets

Freezes all property and money of sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or controlled by U.S. persons, and stops any payments or transfers involving them.

Suspends entry into the United States

Bans sanctioned individuals, including leaders and officials of sanctioned groups, from entering the U.S. as immigrants or nonimmigrants.

Punishes those who help traffickers

Applies sanctions to anyone who provides financial, material, or technological support to drug traffickers or other sanctioned persons.

Who does this affect?

Foreign individuals and organizations involved in drug trafficking
U.S. financial institutions
U.S. federal agencies

What is the real world impact?

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Combats the U.S. opioid crisis

Targets the foreign sources of fentanyl and other illicit drugs that are causing widespread overdoses and deaths in the United States.

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Creates economic pressure on drug traffickers

Uses the power of the U.S. financial system to disrupt the operations of drug cartels and criminal organizations by freezing their assets and blocking their transactions.

When does this start?

This order takes effect immediately as of its signing date, December 15, 2021.