Trade, tariffs and industry

Executive Order 14059: Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade

President: Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Created a sanctions program allowing Treasury and State to block property and restrict entry of foreign persons materially involved in the international illicit drug trade.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 14059 still in effect? Yes. Active sanctions authority.

Drug packages, money, trade routes and enforcement silhouettes surround financial buildings.
Illicit-drug sanctions, illustrated symbolically; routes and people are not identified evidence, current designations or adjudicated conduct. EO Explained · site-generated editorial illustration · not documentary evidence.

What does Executive Order 14059 do?

Treasury and State could make designations under the stated criteria; asset freezes or entry restrictions required separate determinations.

Administration position: The order’s findings and policy rationale were the Biden administration’s positions. This guide distinguishes them from implementation records and judicial rulings.
SignedDecember 15, 2021
Lead officialsTreasury/OFAC, State Department and Justice
Express timingEffective immediately; designations as evidence supports

Before and after

Before the order

Earlier counter-narcotics sanctions focused principally on significant foreign narcotics traffickers under the Kingpin Act.

After the order

Treasury has repeatedly designated traffickers, cartels, suppliers and financial facilitators under EO 14059. The authority remains listed as active by OFAC; designations and licenses change over time.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
TreasuryDesignate and block covered persons and propertyOngoing
StateRecommend or make related determinations and visa restrictionsOngoing
Justice and agenciesSupport evidence and enforcementOngoing

What happened next

EO 14059 signed.

OFAC continues to administer the program.