"This week's action exposes Blanca Cazares' sophisticated money laundering apparatus and subjects it to powerful economic sanctions," announced OFAC Director Adam J. Szubin, adding:

"This Kingpin Act designation also puts the global community on notice about the illicit activities of this network."

According to OFAC, Blanca Cazares and her widespread money laundering organization act as fronts for various Mexican drug kingpins.

The Treasury explained in a statement that:

"Blanca Cazares' money laundering organization operates throughout Mexico and in California, and is run by members of her immediate and extended family. Arturo Meza Gaspar, Blanca Cazares' spouse, and their three adult children, Arturo, Gipsy, and Lizbeth Meza Cazares, were designated today because of their key roles in the ownership and control of Blanca Cazares' front companies and assets in Mexico."

"Other key financial associates of Blanca Cazares designated today include Jorge Normando Patraca Ponce, Roberto Perez Verduzco, Maria Tiburcia Cazarez Perez, Epifanio Zazueta Urrea, and Marco Antonio Olivas Ojeda. Blanca Armida Aguirre Sanchez, a Tijuana, Baja California-based money launderer who works with Blanca Cazares, was also named by OFAC."

It continued:

"Blanca Cazares owns and controls a complex network of businesses located throughout Mexico in Culiacan, Sinaloa; Guadalajara, Jalisco; Tijuana, Baja California; and Mexico City, Distrito Federal. The OFAC designation targets key Blanca Cazares front companies based in Culiacan, Sinaloa, including Consorcio Inmobiliario del Valle de Culiacan S.A. de C.V., SEPRIV S.A. de C.V., Cazper Importaciones S.A. de C.V., and Patraca S.A. de C.V. (a.k.a. Boutique Patraca). Also targeted are three Tijuana-based money service businesses including Mexglobo S.A. de C.V., Multiservicios AGSA S.A. de C.V., and AGBAS Consultores S.A. de C.V., all owned or controlled by Blanca Cazares associate Blanca Armida Aguirre Sanchez."

This action is part of ongoing efforts under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act to apply financial measures against significant foreign narcotics traffickers worldwide. More than 300 businesses and individuals associated with the 68 drug kingpins have been designated pursuant to the Kingpin Act since June 2000.

The designation action freezes any assets the 42 designees may have under US jurisdiction and prohibits US persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with these individuals and entities.