President moves to seize U.S. assets of a dozen alleged drug lords

June 2, 2000
Web posted at: 8:03 a.m. EDT (1203 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The federal government is trying to freeze assets in the United States belonging to a dozen alleged international drug lords and to punish those who do business with them.

In the first use of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Act since it became law in December, the White House Thursday night gave Congress a list of the alleged drug kings.

Included are alleged cartel leaders in Mexico and one member of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted.

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The law allows the Treasury Department to freeze assets of companies listed as associates of the drug kingpins, and prevents U.S. firms from doing business with those companies.

Among those named are:

-- Benjamin and Ramon Arellano-Felix

-- Jose and Luis Amezcua-Contreras

-- Rafael Caro-Quintero and Vincente Carrillo-Fuentes.

All are from Mexico. Ramon Arellano-Felix, also known as "El Comadante," is on the FBI Top 10 List, alleged to be one of the leaders of the violent Tijuana Cartel.

Others on the list are: Chang Chi-Fu and Wei Hsueh-Kang of Burma; Noel Heath and Glenroy Matthews of St. Kitts; and Abeni and Oluwole Ogungbuy of Nigeria.

The White House is required to submit the list to certain congressional committees by June 1 each year, and to follow it by July 1 with a confidential outline of the sanctions the White House intends to impose on individuals or businesses allegedly associated with the drug lords.

There is no requirement that the president obtain congressional permission before imposing sanctions.

U.S. officials maintain those named or affected can appeal to the Treasury Department or use the courts to mount a challenge.

Mexican officials said they worry about receiving enough information to ensure any appeal is fairly heard.

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