US announces visa restrictions for family & associates of sanctioned persons

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today announced a new visa restriction policy for family members and close personal and business associates of individuals sanctioned under Executive Order 14059.

Under Executive Order 14059, four Guyanese nationals were sanctioned for drug trafficking. They are Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh, Paul Daby Jr, Mark Cromwell (a former policeman), and Randolph Duncan. The sanctions were announced on June 5 by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

“We will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs from entering our country,” Rubio said in a statement.

In an official press release, the US State Department explained that the “the fentanyl crisis in the United States is unprecedented, with overdoses remaining the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 44. More than 40 percent of Americans reportedly know someone who has died from an opioid overdose, and in 2024 the United States averaged over 220 overdose deaths daily.”

Rubio said this action expands upon existing tools, including sanctions pursuant to E.O. 14059 and visa ineligibilities pursuant to section 212(a)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for controlled substance traffickers.

“Imposing visa restrictions on drug traffickers, their family members, and close personal and business associates will not only prevent them from entering the United States, but it will serve as a deterrent for continued illicit activities,” he said.

“The U.S. Department of State will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs from entering the United States and harming U.S. citizens,” he added.

Sawh was serving as Police Commander of Region One (Barima-Waini), last September when some 4.4 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of over G$40.7 billion, were discovered hidden in several bunkers near an illegal airstrip at Matthew’s Ridge. Following the announcement of the sanctions earlier this month, Sawh was sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation. Sawh joined the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on June 3rd, 2008; his last posting is at the Force’s Projects Office.

In 2024, OFAC had also announced sanctions against Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin Mohamed, several of their associated companies, and Guyanese government official Mae Thomas.

The sanctions were issued over their alleged roles in public corruption.

According to an official OFAC statement, the sanctions stem from a large-scale tax evasion scheme related to gold exports. Between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise is alleged to have omitted more than 10,000 kilograms of gold from import and export declarations—resulting in the evasion of over US$50 million in duty taxes owed to the Government of Guyana. Despite the allegations, the Mohameds have denied any wrongdoing.

In a Reuters article published on July 14, 2023, it was revealed that the family is under investigation by several US agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security.

Citing five sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Reuters has reported that the Mohameds are suspected of smuggling both Colombian cocaine and Venezuelan gold to international markets. Further, an intelligence report referenced in the investigation suggests that they may also be involved in laundering money for drug traffickers and criminal organizations, including sanctioned Russian nationals operating in the region.

These sanctions were made pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.